Our Father’s Day competition had a brilliant response and proved that all you Dads out there are champions to your partners and children. Our panel of judges loved reading what made each and every one of you so special to your families and it was really tough choosing just three winners. So, we also chose a selection of your entries who, although they didn’t win, we thought really deserved an honourable mention.
Meet our three winners who each receive fantastic toys from Playskool:
Mark Thomas, 38, nominated by wife Clare “When I tell him he’s wonderful, he says he does ‘nothing special’ but I’ve no idea where we’d be without him!”
Mark is step-dad to Jordan,11, who has cystic fibrosis, and dad to 5 year old Jessica and 3 year old Alex who has cerebral palsy and other problems. He also has two older children, Gemma, 18 and Martin, 16, who think their dad’s wonderful and often say so!
Clare says, “Since Alex was born on Father’s Day 18th June 2000, life’s been quite challenging as, despite being totally gorgeous, Alex is very ‘high maintenance’ and doesn’t sleep! Mark now does virtually all the ‘night shifts’ and can often be found cramped up and snoring in Alex’s, floor level bed!
“Alex is dairy intolerant and Mark, who does all the cooking, often with swollen, painful hands because of his own medical condition, cooks three different types of meal daily because Jordan needs a high fat/high calorie diet.
“Mark just seems to keep doing what needs to be done without complaining (not like me!) despite the pain I see him suffering. I know when it’s bad because he’ll ask for Reiki, which I learnt so as to help him. When I tell him he’s wonderful, he says he does ‘nothing special’ but I’ve no idea where we’d be without him!”
Judges Comments
Mark has a medical condition himself, three young children, two with special needs as well as two older children of his own. He does what needs to be done without complaining even though he is in pain himself.
He sounds like an amazing person, let alone a dad!
Christopher Channing nominated by his wife Susannah “I can honestly say
that without him and the sacrifices that he has made for our family I
never would have managed it.”
Susannah says, “I’d like to nominate my husband Christopher Channing as the most fantastic father ever! When our baby was born my husband had a promising career but we were panic-stricken after finding out that our beautiful son, Joseph had a cancerous tumour at just one week old. But Christopher was a tower of strength and kept me together on many many occasions.
“Eventually our son fought the cancer and now at the age of two he’s every bit the little monster and we wouldn’t want it any other way.
“Not only was Christopher the greatest support I could have asked for but he was a dab hand at singing our son to sleep, changing nappies like a pro and teaching Joseph DIY!
“He also gave up work and his career to allow me to go back to university to complete my engineering degree. I graduate in 1 month and I can honestly say that without him and the sacrifices that he has made for our family I never would have managed it.
“He is a wonderfully kind and gentle husband and father who has taken on the househusband role like a duck to water. Our son adores him and rightly so. I couldn’t have dreamt of a better father and role model for my children. And the great news is that we are getting to do it all again as baby number two is on the way. My husband is praying for twins!!!”
Judges Comments
Christopher gave up promising career to care for his family, his son was diagnosed with cancer at 1 week and he was ‘a tower of strength’. His son is now 2 having fought the cancer. Her husband is the greatest support to her allowing her to complete a degree.
“What an amazing bloke, to give up his career for his family and at the same time be happy for his wife to pursue her degree!
Digger, 38, nominated by his partner and their son, Kiarán. “He wanted
to make sure that he would still be able to work and provide for us no
matter what and that meant retraining.”
Digger’s partner says, “On February 22nd 2003, our gorgeous little boy Kiarán was born. We were absolutely thrilled to bits but, just 5 weeks later, Digger had a slight stroke at only 37.
“Kiarán and I were with him all of the time and despite having limited control down one side, Digger insisted on helping to look after our baby and would change his nappy and cuddle him in his hospital bed!
“He was discharged a week later and even though he had mobility problems he refused to sit at home. He was a truck driver but just two weeks after the stroke he started technical college. He wanted to make sure that he would still be able to work and provide for us no matter what and that meant retraining.
“He passed all of his computer courses and recovered so well he returned to work in December 2003. Kiarán and him are inseperable!! He deserves to be named ‘Best Dad’. We are so so proud of him and love him for everything he has done for us.”
Judges Comments
Digger had a stroke at 37 and was unable to continue as a truck driver. He has retrained to ensure he can still support his family.
“Despite having a stroke that has changed his life so soon after the birth
of his son, he has still been thinking of his family and not himself.”
