Dad skydiving after daughter's 'devastating' diagnosis

Matt is raising money for charity following Megan's aplastic anemia diagnosis

A father is taking on a charity skydive to raise money for charities that supported his daughter after she was diagnosed with a "devastating" condition.

Matt, a former Royal Marine from Calne, Wiltshire, will jump with four of his colleagues.

It comes after his daughter, Megan, 10, was diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a rare and serious disease where bone marrow fails to produce an adequate number of blood cells.

"Anything that you go through in your career pales in significance to having to watch your little girl go through this," Matt said.

Shortly after her 10th birthday, Megan's health took a downward turn, when she began developing bruises on her legs.

Initally they were thought to be the "normal rough and tumble" from school, but after two days, the bruising spread all over her body.

Megan was diagnosed shortly after her 10th birthday in 2023

After weeks of tests, Megan was diagnosed with aplastic anemia.

"It was a devastating diagnosis and there was no treatment available which could reverse the failed bone marrow," Matt said.

The only option was to give Megan a full bone marrow transplant.

While the family waited for a suitable donor, Megan went through weekly blood and platelet transfusions and an intensive course of chemotherapy.

Just before Christmas, a donor was identified in Germany and surgeons were able to perform the bone marrow transplant in March.

Megan underwent a bone marrow transplant in March

“Megan has a brilliant sense of humour and has maintained a positive outlook throughout," Matt, who will be donating to seven different organisations, said.

He also credited various charities and medical staff in Swindon and Bristol who have helped to care for Megan.

“I don’t think we could have done it without some of these charities.

“We’ve taken from charity and we feel absolutely compelled to make sure that other families that have such devastating news are able to reach out and have the same level of support that we’ve had.

"We want to give in more than we’ve taken out," he added.

Matt said Megan has "maintained a positive outlook throughout"

Although the former Marine has jumped out of planes before, this skydive, which has so far raised £7,700, will be his highest yet.

Weather permitting, they plan on doing the skydive on 9 August in Salisbury.

"Megan loves checking the [fundraising] page and reading the comments," Matt said.

“It’s not just the fundraising that we’re concentrating on, it’s very much the message.

"We wouldn’t have Megan here if it wasn’t for people giving blood, platelets and stem cells.”