Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Celts fans’ dream has come true
Family meet players and staff
A Celtic-daft Coatbridge family’s dreams came true when they got to meet players and staff from their beloved football club.
The Fitzpat ricks also travelled to the Hoops’ game at Motherwell last month in some style as they rocked up at Fir Park stadium in a plush stretch limousine.
The unforgettable experience was all thanks to the Les Hoey MBE DreamMaker Foundation, which arranges spectacular special treats for children with life-threatening illnesses.
Brave little Kaison Fitzpatrick, two, was registered with the charity after he developed chronic lung disease and organisation founder Les Hoey, of Wishaw, stepped in to treat Kaison’s family to their footballing fiesta.
Sadly Kaison wasn’t well enough to attend the memorable occasion, but his mum Jacqueline, 32, and brother Aiden, 10, were on hand.
Kaison’s aunt Hayley and cousins Erin and Jack also got to meet with Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, captain Scott Brown and other members of the Hoops’ first-team squad at the Dakota hotel in Eurocentral before heading off by limo to see their favourites draw 0-0 with Motherwell.
Hayley, six, is also with the DreamMaker Foundation after having her kidney removed and the Fitzpatrick family were “absolutely thrilled” to have the chance to get up close and personal to their footballing heroes.
Kaison’s mum Jacqueline told the Advertiser: “Kaison wasn’t able to go along but it was brilliant to see Aiden, Erin and Jack so happy to meet Brendan Rodgers and the players.
“They were all really great with the kids and took the time to chat, sign autographs and take photos.
“Les [Hoey] then arranged for a limousine to take us straight to the Motherwell game and it was a day we’ll never forget.
“We are all Celtic fans and cannot thank Les and the Foundation enough for treating us to such a special event.”
Jacqueline added: “Kaison has chronic lung disease and spent some time in the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow.
“Thankfully, he is doing a lot better now; he attends a lung clinic and physiotherapy at University Hospital Wishaw every six months.
“It affects him more during the winter and he was on oxygen then, but the hope is that he will grow out of his illness over time.”
Les Hoey and members of his Foundation are taking part in Kiltwalk fundraisers this summer – the first of which takes place in Glasgow on April 29.
● To find out more, visit www. thekiltwalk. co. uk/ dreammaker-foundation/