Selby family 'humbled' as Band of Builders fixes roof to help Ben
The family of a young boy with a serious illness have thanked the volunteers who carried out crucial repairs to their home in their hour of need.Richard and Alison's son Ben was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia in 2022 when he was just five.Richard, who was trying to renovate the family's "forever home" in Selby, North Yorkshire, became overwhelmed by the prospect of trying to fix the property's leaky roof, which posed a serious health risk to Ben.But with the help of the charity Band of Builders, 12 roofers from across the country rode to the rescue and completed the job for no fee in just three days.
The organisation offers help and support to tradespeople across the UK, including carrying out home adaptations and building work.Landscape gardener Richard said trying to fix the roof himself as he juggled caring for Ben, who was undergoing daily chemotherapy in Sheffield, and work had become an "impossible battle" that was "soul-destroying".Doctors warned the family that damp and mould in the house would be dangerous for Ben who, three years on from his diagnosis, is now in remission.
Speaking to BBC Look North, Richard said: "In the early days when Ben was diagnosed, we were in survival mode and we had this strength to keep going. We were inspired by Ben and all his resilience to go through this treatment at just five years old."It was only when things started to stabilise and Ben started to get better that the house started to take over, and that became the big demon that we had to fight."The family bought their home in 2021, with Richard initially happy to get stuck into carrying out repairs and upgrades.But as the toll on him grew, Sheffield Children's Hospital pointed the family towards Band of Builders, who Richard described as "unbelievable"."Before we knew it, they were here with a huge team of volunteers who had given up their time and materials to come here, to complete strangers, and put a new roof on the house," he said.
"It's humbling. I didn't think this kind of thing happened to normal people. It's something you see on TV. I'm overwhelmed by their generosity and kindness."Now in better health, Ben said he was looking forward to spending more time with his dad."I'm excited about playing games with him and him being around, and now he doesn't have to hammer things in the room," Ben said."He can now just sit on the sofa and relax."
Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
11 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
JoJo Siwa addresses her sexuality amid shock new romance with Chris Hughes
JoJo Siwa marked the start of 2025 Pride Month with a poignant message for her social media followers. Taking to Instagram Stories on Sunday, the 22-year-old former child star wrote, 'Happy day 1 of the happiest month. What I have learned over the last 22 years is that pride is all about love, acceptance and celebration.' She added, 'No matter who you are or what you are, you are you, you are beautiful, and you are perfect. Everyone's story is different and everyone's journey is different.' Siwa — who shocked fans when she started dating Celebrity Big Brother UK costar Chris Hughes, 32, in April — declared that the 'most beautiful thing' about love is 'that it's just love.' In conclusion, she wrote, 'Happy pride to the beautiful LGBTQIA+ community, to the allies, and to all that exist:).' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. While starring on season 24 of Celebrity Big Brother UK, JoJo shared, 'I've always told myself I'm a lesbian, but I think being here, I've realized, "Oh no, I'm not a lesbian, I'm queer." I think that's really cool. I'm switching letters.' Later, while speaking to Us Weekly, the former Dance Moms personality said she thought the statement wouldn't make it to television. 'That was one of those conversations actually that I was having that I was like, "This will never see the light of day." I don't mind that it did, because I actually think it starts a very beautiful conversation of queer. I think queer joy is so special and so magical,' she told the outlet. She went on to reject putting her sexuality 'in a box.' 'Queer is a beautiful umbrella term for the LGBTQIA community,' Siwa emphasized. 'I think that for me to be a woman and say I have a non-binary partner, but then also say I'm a lesbian is crazy. 'I just realized within myself that the way my eyes are to the world, I think I'm just queer. It has nothing to do with anything besides that. It's nothing to be ashamed of. The world is going crazy with that one though. It flabbergasts me.' Before launching her romance with Huges, JoJo was in a brief relationship with Australian content creator Kath Ebbs, who is non-binary. Their unceremonious breakup happened at the Celebrity Big Brother UK wrap party in April. Back in 2022, Siwa was forced to defend herself after telling Yahoo! Life she doesn't like the word 'lesbian.' She took to TikTok to clarify her statement and address scrutiny from fans, stating, 'I never said that 'lesbian' was a dirty word.' In the interview with the publication the former Lifetime star said, 'I don't like the word itself. It's just like a lot. But I mean, at the end of the day, that's what I am.' She compared it to the word 'moist,' which some people don't like because of the way it sounds phonetically. 'It's like the word moist. It's just like… ugh!' she added, much to the dismay of some of her followers. She reiterated on TikTok, 'I never would say that it's a dirty word because it is not. It's not a bad word, it's not a slur, it's especially not a word that I am ashamed of saying or ashamed of identifying as by any means. The the blond dancer added, 'I don't hate the word lesbian. Whenever someone talks to me about my sexuality I just say that I'm gay.
Daily Mail
18 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Chloe Brockett shows ex-boyfriend Jack Fincham what he's missing as she puts on a VERY busty display in lace bra following their sixth split
made sure all eyes were on her as she showed off her very ample assets following her bitter split from her ex-boyfriend Jack Fincham. The TOWIE beauty, 24, and former Love Island winner, 34, have had a tumultuous relationship over the years after first getting together in 2019, but last month the pair went their separate ways for a sixth time after a string of heated rows. Despite the blow, Chloe took to Instagram to show that she is getting on with her life without Jack by sharing a cheeky video of herself wearing nothing but a lace bra. In the clip, she could be seen opening a drawer, flashing a glimpse of herself clad in the plunging underwear, which highlighted her cleavage. The reality star styled the striking number with a full face of makeup and glamorous hair. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Later in the day, Chloe posted a slew of stunning snaps to her Instagram stories and appeared to be in good spirits as she tried to move on. Wearing a pastel yellow cardigan and blue jeans, Chloe posed in a sultry way down the camera, before heading to a flower market to buy herself a bouquet to brighten up her day. The sexy video and pictures come after Chloe revealed a devastating panic attack forced her to cancel a solo surgery trip abroad following her split. Taking to her Instagram Stories Chloe answered followers questions and while not divulging what surgery she had been planning, said she'd made it all the way to the airport before 'freaking out' and having to head home. She wrote: 'Guys you will not believe this... I got all the way to the airport and turned around! I freaked myself out,' 'I was going alone as all my friends are busy/working etc and I was saying oh I'll be brave and independent and had a panic attack at the airport! was nothing to do with the company just sometimes thing don't feel right and you have to go with your gut!'. Last week Chloe broke her silence on the split after Jack hinted that they had reunited for a seventh time, as he mysteriously uploaded a loved-up selfie of the couple to his Instagram Stories only to delete it moments later. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline about the social media post, Chloe said: 'I'm not sure why he posted that picture of me last night I'll be honest, but what I can say is when we were in Ibiza [where the picture was taken], it was a really beautiful time in our relationship and we were happy.' Jack recently said he doubts his relationship with Chloe is over for good, and it appears Chloe feels the same, admitting: 'I'm sure he would like to go back to that time in our relationship, as would I to some extent. 'Obviously I'm focusing on moving out and things going on in my career and Jack is focusing on a lot of things going on in his. 'I wish him well and we'll always be involved in each other's lives to some extent, whether romantically or in a friendship way, but as of right now I'm focusing on myself.' 'I've seen a lot about us slamming each other, I can assure you that is definitely not what is going on. 'Me and Jack have been in each other's lives for a really long time, six nearly seven years now, and we tried living together and it didn't work for multiple reasons, not because of my OnlyFans at all.' It comes after Jack said he doubts his relationship with Chloe is over for good but doesn't currently know what is going to happen. Jack and Chloe moved into their first home together in May 2024 and even created a joint Instagram account to share their home updates. The reality star has now explained that he has moved back in with his mum while Chloe has 'moved out into her own flat'. He told The Sun: 'Chloe and I haven't been in a great place. I'm living at my mum's and she has moved out of the house we lived in and into her own flat. I don't know what will happen between us. I still love her. I doubt it's over for good. 'We've been through a hell of a lot in the past couple of years. I didn't tell her about the bulimia, it is a hard thing to discuss with anybody. Even Mum doesn't know. 'I am a very open bloke. I cry, I wear my heart on my sleeve, but bulimia, for a bloke, I didn't think it was something I could discuss.' Chloe has also begun her new chapter in life as she revealed to her Instagram followers that she has the keys to her new place. Sharing a snap of herself opening the door to her new home, Chloe gushed: 'Today's a good day.. got the keys to my new place ✨.' It comes after Chloe took to her Instagram Stories last month to open up about living with a 'narcissist' for a year, although she didn't name anyone specifically. In now-deleted posts, she told her followers: 'I wasn't going to say anything but I'm going to say something. 'I think the scariest part about living with a narcissist is that they genuinely believe their own lies. 'So they genuinely believe the things they are saying and this version of themselves that they are presenting to the world is the true version because they see them day in and day out. 'I wasn't going to say anything but when you see this person just repeatedly projecting this absolute false version of themselves to the world. 'I had the pleasure of spending a year around this human that was nothing like the person they presented themselves. 'I just had to say something. I think narcissist are probably the most scariest people you can ever encounter in your whole entire life and just for so long I genuinely believed the lies that I was being told. 'I just woke up one day and was like "wow.. you're being lied to."' Chloe later took to her Instagram Stories to reveal that she had deleted the posts in question and said she would speak on the topic 'at a later date'. MailOnline has contacted representatives of Jack for comment. It comes after Chloe announced she is once again single and wants to 'focus on myself', as they both prepared to move into separate homes. Last month, during a Q&A session with her Instagram followers, Chloe was asked if she was still in a relationship. She responded: 'No I'm not in a relationship anymore... just want to focus on myself and the things that make me happy.' When asked if she was moving in with Jack, she explained: 'No I am moving to Brentwood on my own... I can't wait to show you all my little place it's so pretty.' In another Instagram Story, she added: 'I wanna give myself a cuddle after the last year I've had... only way is up from here'.
Daily Mail
33 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Ciara puts on a VERY busty display in plunging bodysuit and gold miniskirt as she hosts Black Women in Excellence Dinner in Mayfair
Ciara commanded attention in a plunging skintight bodysuit as she hosted her Black Women in Excellence Dinner at Isabel Mayfair on Sunday. The singer, 39, looked incredible as she stepped out in a shiny satin gold miniskirt and a coordinating sleeveless gilet. She added inches to her toned physique as she slipped into a pair of chunky black leather platform heels. Ciara opted for full glamour to celebrate the evening as she styled her luminous blonde locks into a straight sleek hairdo. To accessorise, the hitmaker finished her ensemble with a set of diamond encrusted necklaces and a matching ring on her index finger. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The singer, 39, looked incredible as she stepped out in a shiny satin gold co-ord which featured an elasticated, sleeve-less, gilet Ciara appeared in top spirits for the event as she clutched a beautiful bouquet of red roses. Elsewhere at the event, Yasmin Evans attended the event in a stylish butter yellow structured blazer. She paired her garment with a shiny gold mini skirt and slipped into a pair of shiny strappy heels and a clutch. Vanessa Kingori sent pulses racing as she stepped out in a cameo-print dress which featured a sweetheart neckline. To complete her sizzling display, Vanessa slipped into a pair of black block-heel shiny heels. Andrea Thompson looked chic as she wore an elegant two-piece suit which featured flared trousers and a waistcoat. She accessorised her look with a pearl necklace and matching earrings. Adding a vibrant colour to the event, Candice Brathwaite commanded attention in a pale blue and white geometric floral print dress. Bianca Saunders cut an elegant display as she stepped out in a beige figure hugging co-ord which featured an ankle-length skirt and a sleeveless top She finished her look with a pair of towering, white peep-toe heels and dangly gold earrings. Bianca Saunders cut an elegant display as she stepped out in a beige figure hugging co-ord which featured an ankle-length skirt and a sleeveless top. Imani-Lansiquot looked elegant in a black slip on dress which clung to her incredibly toned physique. She finished her classic look with a stylish metallic clutch and a pair of gold strappy heeled sandals.
