Sponsors

"As the director of a web design company I spend a good chunk of my working day searching through all the enquiries that come in and one day I noticed an enquiry from Robert Colson wanting a website for a fund that he had setup for his son Richard. Like any other enquiry we receive I telephoned Mr. Colson to gain further information and after hearing all about the fund and about Richard I knew that I just had to help in some way as this fund was not about making the fund members rich like some other funds and charities but it was about a family with a massive heart wanting to help others.

What stood out for me is the fact that this was very personal and I could in-directly relate to everything that Mr. Colson was speaking about as my own daughter has a severe Heart defect as she was born with one of her main valves (tricuspid) missing also known as Tricuspid Atresia. When speaking with Mr. Colson he told me that many people ask him how he lives his life and the answer I got is exactly as my family live ours 'one day at a time'. This now made it personal for me and I would do what ever it took to get this fund noticed.

By this time taking any kind of payment for the website never crossed my mind and I had no hesitation at all in offering the services of my own time as well of my staff free of charge to ensure that the fund received a professional online presence and a full online marketing campaign. I now devote most nights to getting the word around the internet about the fund and often look at my watch and it is 1am and wonder where the time went.

Life is very special and most people take it for granted but until you yourself or a member of you immediate family has been in a position where they are thankful just to be alive you cannot really understand what it is like. This is where I differ as I know exactly how Mr. Colson feels." Mark Preston, Managing Director, KSM Global Ltd. www.ksmgloballtd.com 

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I went to answer a knock at the door one afternoon and as per usual there was a guy standing there with clipboard in hand. My instinctive reaction was to get rid of the guy, who i thought was touting for business, home improvements, change your gas supplier, the usual run of the mill annoyance call. As i was about to launch into my, no thanks pal, i'm busy right now routine Robert started to tell me his story about his son Richard. Let me tell you, my attitude changed immediately and i felt that lump in my throat as this Dad explained in a very friendly manner, the situation regarding his son and how determined he was that he had to reach out and go knocking doors for not just help but to raise awareness of this terrible illness. I am just an ordinary guy but i'm also a dad and i felt a total respect for the man in the very short time we spoke together. During our conversation Robert mentioned that a Web Design team had offered some free webspace and a new website would be online shortly.

That's when i new i could also do something to help as i have been publishing my website, http://www.theroadtohampden.co.uk for 9 years now and i have a section for charities within. I offered Robert the free space also and he was delighted, so i started to put some information together about Richard and it's now online at http://www.upyarkilt.com/charity_appeal_page_Richard_Colson.html

I'll keep in touch with Robert and any new information about what's going on and publish what i can on the page. If there's even a glimmer of hope for Richard and others who suffer this terrible illness, then it will all be worthwhile. Sometimes just a friendly e-mail to say hi is worth millions.

If you have met Robert then you'll understand, he seems like a smashing dad, but he's a dad on a mission. Trying desperately to save your son is unimaginable unless you have been there yourself. Help him, you bet your life i will.

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We are being helped by the Noble Primary School who have raised £450

http://www.northlan.gov.uk/education+and+learning/schools/primary/noble+primary+.html