A former Royal Marine from Wiltshire is preparing to swap out the sea for the sky as he jumps out of a plane for his 10-year-old daughter.
Megan Hughes, 10, from Calne was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia, a life-threatening blood disease, in 2023 and has spent this year undergoing a bone marrow transplant and intensive chemotherapy.
For her dad, former Royal Marine Matt Hughes, and his wife Jess, it was the start of every parent's worst nightmare and has sparked their desperate fundraising for help.
Megan and her dad Matt (Image: Landmarc)
“Shortly after Megan’s 10th birthday we noticed bruising on her legs," the 49-year-old recalled.
"Assuming this was normal rough and tumble at school, we thought nothing of it, but the bruises kept appearing and within two days were all over her body.
"She was finally diagnosed with aplastic anaemia and it was a devastating diagnosis. There was no treatment available - her only option was a full bone marrow transplant."
He added: “Megan endured weekly blood and platelet transfusions while we waited for a suitable donor match.
“Just before Christmas, we were given a glimmer of hope when a donor was identified in Germany, but the availability of bone marrow transport wards is very low."
In March this year, Megan underwent an intensive nine days of chemotherapy followed by a full bone marrow transplant.
She then isolated in the hospital for 11 weeks before being allowed to return home to her parents and younger brother, where she now remains isolated on around 750 different medication doses a month.
Megan's parents say her great sense of humour helps her through (Image: Landmarc)
Determined to do anything he can to help, Matt, who is now operations director at Landmarc Support Services, will jump out of a plane with his colleagues on Friday, August 9 to raise money for seven different charities.
These include Young Lives vs Cancer, Brighter Futures GWH, Hannah's Appeal, Molly Olly's Wishes, The Aplastic Anaemia Trust, Rainbow Trust Children's Charity and The Grand Appeal.
The couple are also calling for more people to donate blood and join the stem cell register.
“Anything that you go through in your career pales in significance to having to watch your little girl go through this," said Matt.
“If anyone can donate to the fundraising, then please do, however, if anyone could donate blood and platelets and register on the Anthony Nolan Foundation to register stem cells then that would be amazing."
To donate, visit, givewheel.com/fundraising/3893/charity-sky-dive/#id_page_template.
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