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More on KentOnline
Schoolboy Freddie Bastow has more responsibility on his little shoulders than most children his age.
At just six years old, the Chilton pupil, from Ramsgate, is a young carer - and has been since he was three - helping his younger brother Ralph, who suffers from life-limiting condition Dravet Syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy.
Freddie administers medicine, helps Ralph play and pushes him in his wheelchair.
Mum Hayley Borowiec admits she doesn’t know what she would do without Freddie there.
But despite his already busy life, the youngster has set his sights on another mission - riding 37 miles in a month to help raise money towards a specialist Demelza nurse.
The children’s hospice, which supports seriously ill youngsters in Kent, helps care for three-year-old Ralph, who suffers severe seizures and has mobility issues, global delay and learning disabilities.
“Our lives are a bit different from my friends,” said Freddie.
“Ralph has seizures sometimes and he has a special brain which means he can’t talk and he finds it hard to understand things. I help take care of him by giving him his medicine, helping him stack towers and pushing his wheelchair.
“Demelza also helps us lots. Carers come to our house to take care of Ralph so I can spend time with my mummy.
“Sometimes Ralph goes for a little holiday at Demelza and he loves it there so much he never wants to come home.”
During a recent respite break for the family, Freddie learned to ride his bike and now wants to take part in Demelza’s Miles in May fundraiser, where participants undertake a 37-mile challenge to raise £37,000 - the average cost of a Demelza nurse’s salary.
Hayley says as soon as Freddie saw the email she received about the challenge, he wanted to do it.
“He has just learned how to ride his bike without stabilisers and he said ‘I can do that for Ralph’,” she said.
“He’ll do it during the school run and at the weekends. He’s actually set his own target of 50 miles.”
The 30-year-old says Freddie is a huge help to her.
“Freddie has been a young carer since he was three years old,” she said.
“He helps care for Ralph and he knows exactly what to do if he has a seizure.
“He always makes sure Ralph feels safe and included in anything that is going on.
“I don’t think he’s ever once complained. He’s so proud of his title as a young carer and Ralph heavily relies on Freddie’s support.
“He’ll do anything for his little brother and he is such a help to me. I don’t know what I would do without him.”
Hayley says Demelza provides invaluable care, too, including a care-at-home service so that Freddie can spend time with his mum, as well as respite holidays, where Ralph can have fun with other children similar to him, while his family have a break.
She added: “Demelza provides life-changing support to severely or terminally ill children and their families and, as a charity, they rely almost solely on donations to carry out their invaluable services.”
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