A MUM of a boy with cerebral palsy and epilepsy has thanked Family Fund for their support over the last eight years.
The charity, which helps families with disabled and seriously ill children, has supported Catherine Atkins and her son Jack, aged 10, from the moment they moved to Bromsgrove.
At the time, Catherine had left her well paid job to become Jack’s full-time carer and her partner was on minimum wage.
“Money was very tight but Family Fund stepped in and helped us with getting a washer, dryer and fridge freezer,” said the Catshill resident.
“We received a council grant to adapt Jack’s bedroom and changed the ensuite into a small wet room.
“Family Fund helped us immensely by funding the majority of the wet room flooring, which was an added expense that we couldn’t afford, but desperately needed at the time.
“More recently we have received funding to help us have Jack’s ceiling hoist and vertical lift serviced.
“He now weighs over 28kg and carrying him up and down the stairs is very dangerous. If the lift broke down I would really struggle, putting mine and Jack’s safety in jeopardy.”
Catherine is speaking in support of the charity after it was revealed that almost nine in 10 parents with disabled or ill children feel the pandemic has negatively impacted their mealtime routines.
And nearly 50 per cent agreed that different needs of their children stopped them coming together as a family.
The ‘Mealtimes for All’ study was commissioned by McCain in partnership with Family Fund after the food company pledged £1million to support the charity.
When asked whether Catherine struggled during the pandemic, she said: “I wasn’t prepared to venture out to the shops and put our extremely vulnerable child at risk.
“But after a while, our lovely neighbours would ask if there was anything we needed and would drop food over to us.
“My partner was furloughed until September so money was tighter than it had been.
“But luckily Marcus Rashford lobbied the government to act on food parcels and supermarket vouchers for children. This helped enormously.”
Catherine added she would advice anyone with a disabled child to contact Family Fund.
“They really are a lifeline and there when you need it most.”
McCain believes every family should be able to enjoy mealtimes together, taking time for the little moments that matter.
Christine McGuinness is supporting McCain and Family Fund as part of the McCain’s study which explores the barriers to these moments for families raising disabled or seriously ill children.
For more information on the partnership and ways to donate, visit: http://www.mccainfamilyfund.co.uk
