IT is every schoolboy's dream to walk among fighter planes, Spitfires and helicopters.
And so it proved for courageous Michael Strangwood when he was given a special guided tour around the Manchester Air and Space Museum.
As the BEN revealed, Michael is facing a death sentence after contracting the rare genetic disease adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) which has robbed him of his sight, hearing and speech.
Medics have forecast it is only a matter of months before he is plunged into a permanent vegetative state.
But the little lad's bravery and good humour goes on, although he is locked in a dark and near silent world and is unable to speak.
And that courage was on display again, when he joined his parents Paul and Pam and younger brother Andrew, aged seven, for a tour around the museum.
The family trip was courtesy of a kind offer from former World War Two pilot Arthur Seward, who is now one of a band of keen volunteers at the Liverpool Road museum.
Mr Seward, who contacted the BEN with the invite after reading of Michael's plight, said: "I really enjoyed their trip. I just wish things were not this way for Michael.
"We don't give these tours as a rule, but when we read about Michael in the Bolton Evening News we were so touched.
"It would have been lovely if he could have sat in the cockpit of a Spitfire but that just wasn't possible. I was only too pleased to be able to help."
During their hour-long visit, Mr Seward gave the family an insight into the world of aviation which took them past a huge Avro Shackleton, a Hawker Hunter jet fighter and the famed Spitfire. And although Michael, who was in a wheelchair because he is now so unsteady on his feet, was unable to see the winged wonders, he regularly broke into smiles as he was taken on the tour.
His young brother even enjoyed a sit at the flight controls of a Bristol Sycamore rescue helicopter as his dad Paul looked on, holding Michaels' hand.
And Pam Strangwood revealed that, prior to being diagnosed with his illness earlier this year, Michael had enjoyed plane-spotting at his Astley Bridge home, watching flights coming in to land at Ringways.
Pam, 36, added: "We came to the museum about three years ago and he had a wonderful time. It's a shame that we can't get him to understand exactly where he is because he loves planes.
"We used to watch the planes coming into land at Manchester. It was always Michael who spotted them first. Now he's forever going around the living room pretending he can fly."
The trip came as Michael's condition -- which featured in the Hollywood film Lorenzo's Oil -- worsens.
The disease has now affected the use of his right hand and the little lad faces an operation in coming months in which a tube will be inserted into his stomach to help him feed.
Building work is also underway at the family's home to provide a downstairs bathroom and bedroom for Michael.
Anyone who wants to donate to the Michael Strangwood Appeal should contact Jeff or Tracey on 01926 833665 or post their donation to: Michael Strangwood Appeal, c/0 Camberwell House, 13a Radford Road, Leamington, CV31 1NF.
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