Ipswich: Man to skydive for cousin who has Batten Disease

Edward Squirrell will do the skydive in honour of his cousin, Delilah, who was diagnosed with Batten Disease in November last year at the age of five.

This disease has already taken Delilah's ability to walk and talk and has the potential to take her sight, and cause her to be tube fed and deal with seizures.

As a result of this, Mr Squirrell, 33, is trying to raise money through his GoFundMe page for the family so that he can send Delilah, her parents and sisters, all off to Disneyland Paris.

Delilah with her family. Credit: Edward Squirrell (Image: Edward Squirrell)

He said: "A lot of the families savings have gone on renovations being made to the house to make it more suitable for Delilah.

"As a result, I wanted to set up the fundraiser to raise money for the family so that they can spend it on a getaway together.

"Delilah's older sisters both help look after her, which for two young girls is a lot, and I want to give them an experience they will remember and the family memories that will last forever.

"Children with this disease, don't often make it past later childhood years, and with no cure for it, we just want to make sure they have the best time together."

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Delilah with her sisters. Credit: Edward Squirrell (Image: Edward Squirrell)

Any donated money left will be spent to make the house more accessible and to buy equipment to make life easier for Delilah.

Mr Squirrell will be doing a skydive on Saturday, July 1, with the GoFundMe page that has been set up raising almost £4,000 in a week.

He added: "It's overwhelming.

"Everyone is struggling with money at the moment and to think there are people out there on the bread line, generously giving to the cause, is really overwhelming."

To donate to help Delilah and her family, click here.