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STUDENT Dominic Emerson is going to face his worse fear head-on to raise funds for a British mum fighting a court battle to bring her son home to Bahrain.
The plucky 21-year-old is to make a 160ft bungee jump at the O2 Arena in London in a bid to help Rebecca Jones in a campaign which has continued for four traumatic years.
Former St Christopher’s School pupil, Adam, 14, has remained separated from his mother since October 2009 after she was hoodwinked during a trip to Qatar into signing legal documents written in Arabic she did not understand notifying her of a custody hearing, believing they concerned matters about his future inheritance as the sole surviving heir of his late father.
Dominic, who used to live in Bahrain with his family and attended the British School of Bahrain before returning to the UK to study at college and university, said: “After following Adam’s situation for four years, I wanted to help in any way possible and came up with the idea of doing the sponsored bungee jump.
“The aim is to raise money to support Rebecca and Adam’s family with legal costs and travel expenses as well as raising awareness of the situation as much as possible. When Adam is finally returned home, I intend to come back to Bahrain and meet him and Rebecca.
“I have followed the campaign since the beginning and seen all the amazing ways people have helped so far. As a small community, everyone connected to Bahrain has time to help and support the fight to bring Adam home where he belongs.”
Dominic’s family moved to the Middle East in 1996, living in Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, and enjoyed a nine-year spell in Bahrain. Parents, project maintenance manager Tim and Carla, sisters Shyn, 24, Romy, 13, and brothers Tob, 17, and Dylan, eight, are proud.
Dominic, who is currently studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Kent, contacted Rebecca in November to reveal his plans.
The sport of jumping usually head-first from a great height while attached to a secured elastic cord has really taken off as a fun activity and a way to raise funds for good causes.
The 160ft bungee jump will take place at the O2 Arena in London on March 22. The UK Bungee Club says it will be ‘exciting and unforgettable and provide a unique way to see the city’.
“My family, friends, and everyone I know in Bahrain have been really supportive and I would just like to say a massive ‘thank you’ to everyone who has donated so far,” Dominic added.
“All sponsorship money raised will go a long way to supporting Adam’s family and their fight to get him home. Any additional support or donations would be greatly appreciated. Adam and his family have been through more than enough and he deserves to be home with his family and friends.”
It is a tradition in the Arabic world for the family of a deceased father to take responsibility as ‘moral guardians’ of his children. As Adam has both Qatari and British citizenship the courts in Qatar have so far refused to hand him back to his mother despite the circumstances surrounding his removal from her care and his feelings on the matter and pleas to return to Bahrain.
More than 10,000 people signed a petition in support of Rebecca and copies were recently sent to the Emir of Qatar, Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, via the British Embassy, and to British Prime Minister David Cameron.
A recent fund-raising auction has made it possible for legal representation to be appointed as the case once more goes before the Qatari courts for consideration.
Rebecca has received a further letter of support from Mr Cameron which has boosted her spirits and she has an appointment soon with the Foreign Office in the UK.
She said: “It’s been a blessing to get support from all over the world to pay the legal fees so desperately needed to fight for my son’s freedom. The auction was a success and all the funds we needed to file the case were raised.”
The British expat is now married to Barrie, an IT consultant, and they have a daughter, Alex, eight, who attends St Christopher’s School. Adam was a popular pupil at the school too.
Rebecca still wears a parent tag around her neck with both their names on when she collects her daughter. She works for a training institute and every dinar she earns goes on flights to Qatar twice a week to see her son.
“I’ve been doing that for four years now. If I miss two visits I lose my visitation rights. It’s a very stressful situation to be in. I so desperately don’t want to let my son down,” she said.
*If you want to support Dominic, donations can be made via GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/5efcx4
