Legal-fight mother in plane leap for charity

Suzanne Wakeman with her children Bethany and Adam.

A ROYTON mother of four will today soar through the skies for charity — with a parachute jump from a plane.

Suzanne Wakeman (31), of Newark Park Way, is to brave dizzying heights at Cockerham Airfield, Preston, to raise money for the Organisation for Anti-Convulsant Syndrome (OACS).

Last month, the Evening Chronicle revealed that Miss Wakeman was taking on two pharmaceutical giants over drugs she says caused her children severe disabilities.

She claims anti-convulsant drugs she took for epilepsy while pregnant resulted in her children Bethany (11) and Adam (8) developing health difficulties.

She is part of a long-running group action against Sanofi-Aventis, the world’s third-biggest pharmaceutical company, over the drug Epilim and is also suing Novartis Pharmaceuticals over the drug Tegretol.

It’s claimed the drugs can cause learning and social difficulties, ADHD, facial abnormalities, vision defects, delayed speech and motor development.

She took Epilim while pregnant with Bethany and Tegretol while expecting Adam but says she was not warned of any side effects.

Law firm Irwin Mitchell is bringing the claims under consumer protection laws and representing more than 200 parents.

OACS, a support group for families affected, which Miss Wakeman used to chair, is involved with the case. The charity was coming up with ideas to raise funds when a parachute jump was suggested.

“Like an idiot I said I would do it,” said Miss Wakeman.

“I’ve never jumped out of a plane before in my life. I’m excited by it in part, but I’m also absolutely terrified. We don’t have the money that some charities do as we are run by a group of mums and don’t have the resources but hopefully we will raise a lot of money.”

Sanofi-Aventis say it is not known why an increased incidence of congenital abnormalities has been demonstrated in children born to mothers with epilepsy.

Doctors were given warnings of possible effects in children born to mothers who take Epilim during pregnancy.

Pregnant women with epilepsy are urged not to stop their medication without speaking to a doctor as seizures can be fatal or harm the baby.

To sponsor Miss Wakeman of make a donation contact OACS on 01253 790022 or send a cheque to OACS, PO Box 772, Pilling, Preston. PR3 6WW.