Father Shares Heartbreaking Journey Through Son’s Rare Muscle Disease

A British Airways long-haul pilot from Droitwich Spa is fundraising after his young son received a life-changing diagnosis. The pilot, 55-year-old Ben Dolling, says his nine-year-old son Harry has Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Diagnosis and outlook

Doctors diagnosed Harry after testing began when he lagged behind typical toddler development. Duchenne is a muscle-wasting disorder affecting about one in 3,500 boys.

Ben says his son will likely need a wheelchair by age 10 or 11. He adds that life expectancy often ranges from the teenage years to the mid-20s.

Charity support and fundraising

Action Duchenne provided support to the family after the diagnosis. Ben credits the charity with connecting them to other families and practical help.

He set an initial fundraising target of £2,500. Donations have pushed the total to nearly £4,500 so far.

Some gifts came from strangers who noticed an appeal displayed outside his home. To sponsor Ben, visit https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/ben-dolling.

Marathon challenge and costume

Ben will run the London Marathon to raise funds and awareness. He plans to run wearing a homemade parrot costume he stitched himself.

He chose a bright outfit to draw attention and encourage questions about Duchenne. He hopes awareness will help at least one more family.

Training and preparation

Ben trained while on work night stops worldwide. He tested the costume in hot conditions during trips to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Mexico City, Jeddah, Cape Town, and Dubai.

The suit gets very hot, he says, but the practice runs have held the stitching together. He last ran the London Marathon in 1989, thirty-seven years ago.

As a father sharing a heartbreaking journey through his son’s rare muscle disease, he wants awareness and support. Filmogaz.com will follow the story as he prepares for the race.