A charity based in Liversedge, Kirklees helped a terminally ill man achieve his life goal of driving a supercar.
The Magic Wishing Well granted Stephen Potts, from Mount, Huddersfield, to drive a Porsche 911, after he was diagnosed with cancer. Mr Potts’ daughter, Kelly, said that her father was “over the moon” to get the opportunity to fulfil one of his dreams.
Kelly said: “My father who was 61 and still working full-time came home with chest pains one night. We told him to go to the hospital but he shrugged it off. The next day he went back to work but came home early again because of the pain in his chest. We knew something wasn’t right so convinced him to get checked out.
“The doctors thought that he might have had a blood clot in his lung and was kept in for more tests. After that, they suspected that it might be something more sinister and ran further tests.
“He deteriorated quite quickly after that and was diagnosed with cancer. My father died within six weeks of being diagnosed.”
Within ten days of his diagnosis, Mr Potts’ daughter Kelly, and the team at The Magic Wishing Well, organised the drive. They borrowed the Porsche from a local wedding car business, Prom and Wedding Car Hire Ltd, and arranged the insurance and fuel.
The team at the Magic Wishing Well brought the car to Mr Potts’ home where he got to the 911 independently around the neighbourhood. Kelly described the moment as “unbelievable”.
She said: “They don’t know how much it meant to my dad or my family. It was unbelievable, he even managed to drive the car himself, and I was in the back. It was a fantastic opportunity, they don’t know how much it meant to my father and us as a family to have the memories. ”
The team at the Magic Wishing Well captured it all on video, which Mr Pott’s family will treasure forever. They also gave gifts to Mr Potts and his wife Karen, a 3D jigsaw of the Porsche 9/11 and some flowers, which were well received by the family.
Mr Shakeel Faraz, one of the founders of The Magic Wishing Well, reluctantly agreed to share the magnanimous gesture of his charity. He told Asian Standard: “I am very fortunate to have been blessed with a good lifestyle and so I think it’s only right that I use my privilege to give back.
“I don’t want to do this for publicity or any type of recognition, but to create awareness so other people can benefit from our free services.As a Muslim it reminds you in the Quran that there is a “recognised right, for the needy and deprived” over our wealth, so by giving for the sake of others, a Muslim is fulfilling a duty to those in need and preventing him or her from becoming proud of their own generosity. And that is all I am doing, following my duty as a Muslim. If I can bring a smile on someone’s face then that is my true wealth.”
Mr Potts’ also got to go on a VIP experience at Silverstone, the home of the British Grand Prix, before passing away, where he got to see the home of British racing up close and personal.
The Covid-19 pandemic along with the strict Government guidelines that were in place at the beginning of the year meant that family members couldn’t attend hospital appointments with Mr Potts.
Mr Potts’ contracted Covid-19 and died within six weeks of his diagnosis on 06 April 2021. His daughter Kelly said: “It has been tough, I’m still trying to process what happened, He was so young and active.
“There are good days and bad days but I’m trying to support my mum as much as possible. My father wouldn’t want us to be negative and dwell on things.”
Mr Potts is survived by his wife Karen, his two daughters Kelly and Nicola, and four grandchildren, three boys and one girl.
Watch the full video of the when Mr Potts dream was realised by The Magic Wishing Well.
