Emmerdale actors Lawrence Robb, Jack Downham, Bradley Riches, and former cast member Matthew Wolfenden are set to perform a wing walk on Saturday, July 11, to raise funds for Cure Usher syndrome, a charity close to the heart of their co-star Laura Norton, whose two children were diagnosed with the condition.
Background on Usher Syndrome and the Norton-Jordon Family
Laura Norton, known for playing Kerry Wyatt on the ITV soap, and her fiancé Mark Jordon, who portrayed Daz Spencer in Emmerdale, have two children: son Jesse and daughter Ronnie. Both children were born with Usher syndrome, an inherited condition that causes hearing and vision impairments due to Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). Those affected require hearing aids for life and experience progressive sight loss. The couple are patrons and trustees of Cure Usher, a charity founded by Jo Milne, and have been actively fundraising for research into a cure.
The Wing Walk Challenge
Jack Downham, who plays Noah Dingle, shared a video on Instagram Story announcing the challenge. He said: "Hi guys. So this weekend, I am going to do a wing walk for the Cure Usher charity. If you don't know what Usher is, it's a genetic condition that ends up with children becoming blind and deaf. Something Laura Norton said to me was, deaf people rely on their vision, and blind people rely on their hearing, and this charity is doing a lot of work towards a cure, or preventative measures, which, could change a lot of lives. It's me, it's Lawrence Robb, it's Matthew Wolfenden and Brad Riches. We're all taken off on a plane, on the wing, which I struggle with commercial flights, so it's gonna be fun. Hopefully, you'll get a video of me screaming on the side of a plane as well. If could donate [on the link] down below, two quid, a price of a coffee, something like that, it'd be amazing. Thank you, guys."
Lawrence Robb, who plays Mackenzie Boyd, also shared a video, stating: "So, I am attaching myself to a plane on Saturday morning for Cure Usher Syndrome, and my gorgeous friend, Lauren Norton. If you can spare a teeny bit of money, price of a cup of coffee, to help me, Jack Downham, Matthew Wolfenden and Bradley Riches on our journey, 'cause they're all doing it with me, take off on the wing of a plane." He added: "Please, please, please, send us some tea about money, because we're all crazy. It's mad. Thank you, thank you, thank you. All the love in the world!"
Support from Laura Norton and Fundraising Goal
Laura reshared Lawrence's video on her Instagram Story, writing: "Our crazy friends. @lawrencejarobb I love you all. Please watch." Alongside Jack's video, she wrote: "This beautiful boy - our friend. Strapping himself to the wing of a plane for @cureusher." The GoFundMe page set up for the challenge states: "Our good friends Mark and Laura are patrons for Cure Usher Syndrome which raises funds for research into a cure for sight loss with Usher syndrome. Usher syndrome is the leading cause of genetically inherited hearing and sight loss. Mark and Laura’s children Jesse and Ronnie both have usher syndrome and we are all on a quest to raise money to go into research to find a treatment for them and all others living with dual sensory loss. Every little helps and they are so close to finding a treatment. We need your help!! Thank you all. Bradley, Jack, Matthew and Lawrence."
Upcoming Cure Usher Ball
The annual Cure Usher ball, which Laura and Mark regularly attend, will take place on September 26 at Manchester's Deansgate Hotel. The wing walk is one of several fundraising efforts leading up to the event.
