WHEN six-year-old Joshua Wilson's dream came true to meet Father Christmas, his family decided to return the favour and help other children's wishes become reality - by jumping 13,000 feet from an aeroplane.

The daring 11-strong group of family members and friends from the Bury area formed the Jumping for Joshua team and travelled to Grange over Sands in Cumbria to make the tandem skydive.

Joshua, of Walshaw Road, Bury, has regularly featured in the Bury Times since being diagnosed with a tumour and cyst on his brain stem which required life-saving surgery in March, 2004.

The complicated operation left the then three-year-old in a rare "sleep-like" coma where his body could not function, yet he remained fully aware of his surroundings.

Now, despite setbacks, Joshua is no longer classed as being in a coma.

To celebrate the end of his chemotherapy in December, Joshua joined 100 children with life-threatening and long-term illnesses on a trip to Lapland to meet Father Christmas courtesy of the When You Wish Upon A Star charity.

Joshua watched from the sidelines when the group leapt from the aircraft at 13,000 feet strapped to an instructor and freefalling for 45 seconds to 6,000 feet before landing back on solid ground five minutes later. They are aiming to raise £1,500 for the charity.

About the day, Joshua's mum, Dawn Burgess, said: "It was one of the most magical experiences and Joshua loved it!"

The Stockport-based Wish charity fulfils dozens of wishes each year to make children's dreams come true.

To make a donation to the team, contact Dawn on dawnjburgess@aol.com.