More than 100 children and their families took over M&D’s theme park on Friday with the Les Hoey MBE DreamMaker Foundation.

The families were given the first glimpse at M&D’s winter wonderland display with a trip to see Santa and a host of festive activities and games ahead of the official opening on November 18.

The DreamMaker Foundation, which organises exciting and memorable experiences for children with life -threatening illnesses, was nominated as Scotland’s Theme Park’s charity of the year.

Families from across Wishaw and Motherwell with children with life-threatening illnesses were in attendance on Friday.

M&D’s provided a buffet for the families as well as arcade games, ice skating and Santa’s grotto.

Les Hoey MBE, said: “It’s fantastic to see the kids happy and get to leave hospital. We’ve got the carousel, storytelling, Santa. M&D’s have done us proud, not just with all the rides and games but with the food as well. There’s something here for all the family.”

Santa and his elves

A mum from Cleland praised the Les Hoey MBE DreamMaker Foundation for helping her children to live a normal life despite her daughter’s life threatening condition.

Dianne Reilly, from Cleland, whose six-year-old daughter Erin has the muscle disease myasthenia gravis, said: “Erin has been involved with Les Hoey for ages and she’s been invited to a number of incredible things, they was amazing.

“From when Erin was a baby she has had so many experiences through the Les Hoey Foundation, she was at the Christmas party last year and that’s an experience she’ll never forget. This allows her to be involved and not feel any different to the other kids.

“Erin has myasthenia gravis which means that her muscles don’t work properly and the signals from her brain don’t send out the right messages. She has had it since birth and she’s visually impaired as well.”

Erin attended the M&D’s event along with Dianne, her nine-year-old big brother Fraser and family friend Mhairi Cameron.

Dianne said: “Fraser finds it difficult to understand because he’s nine and getting to go to
things like this and see families in the same situation makes it feel like normal life.

“Les provides support for the siblings as well which is really important when they might not fully understand what is happening.”

Erin and Fraser both attend Calderbridge Primary School.

Dianne added: “Erin has got ASN (Additional Support Needs)in school to keep her in mainstream school.

“She is just one of a kind, she’s definitely a little fighter, every day with Erin is different.”

Another local family seconded the praise for the DreamMaker Foundation.

Stacy Banks, from Coltness, whose eight-year-old son Ashton Banks was born with a serious heart condition said the event organised by Les Hoey was a great way to put a smile on the children’s faces.

She said: “We went to Disney on Ice with Les Hoey before and Ashton loved it.

“I think it’s great, the work that Les does is amazing. It also makes me feel grateful because you think you’ve got it bad and then you see what other families are going through.

“Ashton has a heart condition called tetralogy of fallot .

“When he was six months old he had heart surgery. He still attends Yorkhill and Wishaw General for check ups but he’s doing great.”

Ashton and baby brother Sonny with Les Hoey and DreamMaker mascot Mr Wiz

Santa arrived at M&D’s on a Christmas train and families were treated to a mini Christmas panto before getting to visit Santa’s grotto.

Another family from Hartwood village said the Les Hoey Foundation allows them to enjoy events as a family they would not be able to afford otherwise.

The family is made up of mum Laura Hamlon, dad Chris Hamlon, and children Chloe, 16, Lewis, 14, eight-year-old Robbie and Christopher who is six.

The Hamlon Family: Lewis, Chloe, Robbie, Christopher, Laura and Chris

Chloe is diabetic and epileptic, Lewis has a brain tumour and suffers from type one diabeties while Robbie has cystic fibrosis.

Mum Laura said: “We do a lot with Les Hoey. It gets the kids out its great.

“The Christmas parties are amazing. It eases the pressure on families so much. We’ve got a pretty big family and these things would cost us a lot of money so it’s great.

“Things are very challenging on a day to day basis so it’s lovely that the kids get to come here and just have some fun.”