Dreamz 4 U! Making dreams come true for special children throughout the UK.

From left: Jimmy Michie and daughter Kelly (11) with Shanon Cummings and dad Craig.

By April Mitchinson (14/07/07)

Eight-year-old Dundonian Shanon Cummings was at death’s door less than two months ago, suffering from a rare form of meningitis which saw the right side of her brain swell to such an extent that the entire left-hand side of her body was paralysed.

Drifting in and out of consciousness, she spent five days at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee before being rushed to Glasgow’s Southern General Hospital for emergency brain surgery. Doctors told her father, Craig Cummings, of Linlathen, that she had less than an hour to live.

But Shanon made a miraculous recovery and on Sunday night she will be singing and dancing with her dad and around 8000 others at the Pink concert at Edinburgh Castle, thanks to local humanitarian Jimmy Michie.

Mr Michie helps children throughout Scotland, but predominantly from wards 29 and 30 at Ninewells Hospital, to live their dream through his charity, Dreamz for You. He came up with the idea of establishing the charity after his own daughter, Kelly (11), was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 1995. While Kelly’s tumour is not cancerous, she is still required to have regular check-ups.

The charity has been operating for a little over three months and has already helped more than 50 children achieve their dreams. “It’s up to the kids what they want. The thrill I get out of it’s like winning the lottery,” Mr Michie said.

“The driving force behind it is the thought that some kids won’t make it into adulthood.”

Nurses give their young patients a card on which they write their dream and Jimmy fixes it. He has organised limousine rides, cinema visits, tickets to see Manchester United play Inter Milan and tickets to see the Scottish Ballet Association perform.

Nurses looking after Shanon Cummings gave her one such card. Shanon, who according to her dad is “mad on Pink,” wanted to see the singer perform at her one-off concert in Edinburgh tomorrow.

While Mr Cummings was hopeful Shanon’s dream would come true, he was a little sceptical as the concert sold out within 48 hours of the tickets going on sale at Easter. At the eleventh hour, however, Mr Michie secured tickets with the aid of concert promoter Regular Music.

“She was over the moon when she found out. I think she’ll really love it,” said Mr Cummings.

“I think it’s just brilliant what Jimmy’s done, there should be more of these things for kids because they deserve it.”

Shanon reiterated her dad’s thoughts, saying, “It’s excellent. Thank you to Jimmy.”

“I couldn’t have got them or do what I do without the support I’ve had from so many people, it’s overwhelming,” Mr Michie said.

Though Shanon has recovered, she has been left with a slight weakness down her left-hand side.

Those who would like to donate money or a prize to the charity or know of a sick child who would like their dream granted can contact Mr Michie at www.jimthepig.com or on 07815 022421.