Dudley dream-maker Steve grants 500th wish for youngsters
From eating cream cakes on a speedboat to diving into a mountain of toilet rolls – no dream is too big for charity volunteer Steve Ford who has made hundreds of children's wishes come true.
The 54-year-old works tirelessly to give youngsters,who have spent time in hospital, a day they will always remember.
Mr Ford has been running Wishing Well at Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital for more than 20 years. And he has now reached a major milestone after the 500th wish was granted as 15-year-old Emma Belfort got the chance to have a driving lesson.
Over the years, Mr Ford has granted a wide range of wishes, including Ben Thompson, who wanted to jump through a huge pile of toilet rolls and friends Alexandra Thomas and Laura Liptrot who ate cream cakes while zooming along on a speedboat.
Children have met celebrities including golfer Justin Rose and singers Cliff Richard and Jason Donovan; ridden in helicopters and Ferraris and got close to their favourite animals at Dudley Zoo.
A particularly memorable wish for Mr Ford was when a boy asked to visit the Concorde cockpit.
After three unsuccessful attempts, his wish was hanging in the balance. But then to their surprise it was fourth time lucky as the lad and his brother were instead taken for a flight on the famous plane.
Mr Ford visits the children's ward at the hospital twice weekly to give forms to the children asking if they would like a special wish granted. They are aimed at children aged seven or over but he says any wish is considered.
Mr Ford, of Ash Crescent in Kingswinford, said: "If I can set up something the children want then I will.
"I just make a few calls. Sometimes I have to search for people a bit but, once I find them they're so helpful. I think they actually enjoy it too."
Medical hardships are things that Mr Ford knows a lot about. Suffering from psoriasis and arthritis since childhood, he was forced to medically retire from his work at the Post Office, aged 21.
He began driving a van but had to stop that when he needed hip replacements as a 32-year-old. Volunteering at the hospital radio in 1983, however, brought him in touch with hospital staff and six years later he launched his charity. "For a youngster in hospital away from their family and friends it can be a bit traumatic. I'm just trying to help," he said.
For teenager Emma who was the recipient of the 500th wish, taking a spin in a car was a memorable experience.
The Redhill School pupil had wished for the driving lesson with Safe4Life after spending three days in A&E in February after a routine eye test discovered a condition called benign intercranial pressure on her brain.
