John's leap of faith to make a difference

10:00pm Friday 18th July 2008

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AFTER seeing a 14-month-old baby girl go through open-heart surgery John Forster decided the time had come to make a difference.

The 51-year-old is doing a parachute jump this summer to raise money for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool.

His girlfriend’s grand-daughter, Jasmine Bowler, underwent her five-hour heart surgery there and is now making a full recovery.

“What they did there was nothing short of miraculous,” he said.

“The children you see in there are so ill you feel guilty saying you’re not well yourself,” he said.

Jasmine’s parents, Anthony Bowler and Louise Woods, from Longford Street, have had a hard time watching over their daughter through her treatment, said John, but they have coped well.

“Jasmine is a plucky little kid and they have done a fantastic job under enormous stress,” said John.

“It has been a pleasure to watch them and Jasmine grow and see their progress,” he said.

“She was a frail little thing when she went into Alder Hey but she is turning out to be a little fighter.”

John, from North Avenue, Orford, will do his parachute jump on August 31, weather permitting.

He has already secured sponsorship from businesses across town and his colleagues at John Pring and Sons.

“I am absolutely terrified but I will get through it,” he said of the jump.

If you want to sponsor John you can call him on 07940 963793.