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6-year-old walking to help best
friend

By Hayley Robinson

A young girl who faces losing her best friend to a rare
genetic disorder has organised a sponsored walk to raise awareness
of his devastating illness.

Six-year-old Amelia Whitehead will set off from the Cherry Tree
restaurant, in Canterbury Road, Sittingbourne, at noon on October
17 and make her way to Faversham Town Centre.

She will be accompanied on the 7.5mile walk by her mum
Janine.

Amelia, who moved from Liverpool to Shakespeare Road,
Sittingbourne, two years ago, arranged the walk just days after
being told her friend Shea Givin had been diagnosed with
adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) - a rare, terminal brain disorder which
affects young boys.

The illness and its effects on both the victim and family are
portrayed in the film Lorenzo's Oil.

The Canterbury Road Primary School pupil hopes to raise a
minimum of £300 from the event with all money going to the charity
ALD Life which is dedicated to eradicating ALD and supporting
victims' families.

Mum Janine, 26, said: "Shea lives in Fazakerley in
Liverpool and he was diagnosed with ALD on September 16.

"The sponsored walk was all Amelia's idea. She only decided to
do it last Wednesday and already we've raised more than £400 via
the JustGiving site.

"There's only six months between them and they grew up together.
He even came and stayed with us for a week in August just gone.

"Amelia knows what's going on. She asks a lot of questions and
we've explained he's not well and we're going to try and spend time
with him over the next few months as he's going to change. She
asked if the doctors can fix him and I said no.

"She also asked if he's going to heaven, I've said yes but we
don't know when that will happen.

"It's devastating for his family and his younger brother is also
being tested for ALD at the moment."

Anyone interested in taking part in the walk is asked to contact
Janine on 07969 628053 or email jkmclarkie@yahoo.co.uk

To make a donation visit the website www.justgiving.com/amelia-adayforshea