Related Articles
Dad Darren Chesters was moved to tears by the ‘amazing’ gesture from a Royal Mail driver for his truck enthusiast son. Darren’s son Alex, who has a quadriplegic cerebral palsy – which is the most severe form of cerebral palsy, loves to stand on a bridge over the M6 and watch the vehicles go by.
And the 27-year-old’s enthusiasm hasn’t gone unnoticed with one kind-hearted Royal Mail driver attaching a model truck to the bridge for Alex to find. And after putting details of the gesture on Facebook – the post went viral with tens of thousands responding to it.
Alex’s condition means he is completely reliant on his family. Dad-of-three Darren describe his eldest son as ‘a two to three-year-old in a man’s body’ – and is someone who finds happiness in the smallest of things.
READ: Top Stoke-on-Trent fireworks display axed for 2022
That includes standing on a bridge above the M6 greeting oncoming vehicles and motorists waiting in traffic. The father and son duo – along with Alex’s brother Will, 22 – visit the Ash Flats Lane bridge in Stafford, above the M6, two to three-times-a-week. During their visit Alex is often seen beaming with joy as he waves at passing vehicles.
With his favourite colour being red, Alex is instantly drawn to Royal Mail vans and gets most excited when he sees them pass by. The family visited the bridge on Saturday afternoon (September 17) and were amazed at what they discovered.
Darren, aged 56, from Stafford said: “This Royal Mail driver kept seeing us waving and he decided to buy Alex a Royal Mail truck of his own. When he was visiting family in Stafford he found the bridge and he cable tied it to the bridge with a note on it.
(Image: Darren Chesters)
“On the front it said “for the dad and lad who watch the trucks” and the back said: “I drive for Royal Mail and see you and your lad regularly and thought he might like his own, have a nice day.”
“I cried when I saw it and Alex was chuffed. I can’t believe someone has been that kind and thought to make Alex’s day even better, it’s amazing.
“He never asks for anything apart from going on the bridge. It makes his day and to me it’s part of his education because we are doing colours and identifying which vehicle it is.”
After sharing the heart-warming story on social media, Darren was overwhelmed with the response and people were full of praise for the driver. Alex’s family have thanked the driver for putting a smile on their son’s face.
(Image: Supplied)
(Image: Darren Chesters)
The gesture has gone viral after Darren put a post on Facebook explaining what the driver had done. The post attracted around 84,000 likes on that platform with thousands of comments and around 35,000 shares.
Darren added: “His kindness has gone above and beyond. It’s restored my faith in humanity.
“Alex really doesn’t ask for much, the simplest things in life are the best. The driver has no idea how happy he has made my son and that makes us so happy.
“This weekend has been really overwhelming. We’ve been offered lots of other gifts and things, we’ve turned them down and asked if they could give money to charity instead.
“I am totally gobsmacked and it’s amazing how kind people are.”
NEWSLETTER: Sign up for email alerts direct to your inbox
READ NEXT:
Funfair loses legal fight after council bans Cheadle Wakes
Five big money changes in September including £150 cost of living payment
Martin Lewis explains ‘easy trick’ to get £400 for free
Have you seen him? Stoke-on-Trent man missing for 24 days
Paramedics scrambled to Stoke street in carbon monoxide scare
