A Suffolk father and son duo are taking on a skydive with the Red Devils after a family member suffered life-threatening inflammation of the brain.

Matt Fordham, 54, and his son, Lewis, will join the British Army Parachute Regiment Display Team on Wednesday, May 17, to complete a tandem skydive from 13,500ft.

The pair are raising funds for The Sick Children's Trust which supported the family of their nephew and cousin William Flinton, 18.

East Anglian Daily Times: William Flinton, now 18, was diagnosed with encephalitis in 2015.William Flinton, now 18, was diagnosed with encephalitis in 2015. (Image: The Sick Children's Trust)

William was rushed to Ipswich Hospital in 2015 after suffering multiple tonic-clonic seizures and losing consciousness.

After being intubated, he was transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge for specialist care, where he was diagnosed with encephalitis, which is an inflammation of the brain.

Over the next five years, William continued to suffer seizures and underwent assessments to determine whether he should have surgery to remove part of his brain scarred by the condition.

East Anglian Daily Times: Matt and Lewis Fordham will be undertaking the challenge on Wednesday, May 17.Matt and Lewis Fordham will be undertaking the challenge on Wednesday, May 17. (Image: The Sick Children's Trust)

In 2022, he went in for surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital but was unfortunately unable to undergo the procedure as the seizures start from the area of his brain responsible for motor, speech and language skills.

William's mother, Alison Flinton, said: "While William’s risk of further seizures prevent him from doing many of the things he previously enjoyed, he still has a great sense of humour, loves his cricket and continues to work with horses."

READ MORE: Suffolk boy Rory diagnosed with extremely rare condition at seven weeks old

Barrow resident Mr Fordham said William and his son, who is also 18, are "like brothers".

"When I asked Lewis about joining me, he said yes without even blinking an eye," he said.

"Nothing really phases him, but I'm sure the nerves will hit us both once we're dangling out of a plane."

East Anglian Daily Times: William Flinton's family were supported by The Sick Children's Trust.William Flinton's family were supported by The Sick Children's Trust. (Image: The Sick Children's Trust)

While William was recovering in Cambridge, The Sick Children's Trust supported his parents with a free place to stay on the hospital site.

Ms Flinton said that Acorn House was an "absolute lifeline" for the family, as it allowed them to be two minutes from William's hospital bed.