Appeal to help unwell Charlie, 13, with his golf dreams
An appeal has been launched to give a golf-mad teenager "a space of his own” after he spent most of the past year isolating due to a serious illness.
Charlie Walkerdine, 13, has Auto Immune Hepatitis, and his parents, who want to build him a shed in the garden where he can use a golf simulator, are appealing for materials.
Charlie, from Lichfield, was diagnosed in 2015 with AIH, a disease of the liver which sees his immune system attack the organ as if it is a foreign object.
The steroids he takes to try to prolong the function of his liver have side effects including Brittle Bone Disease and due to his lowered immune system Charlie finds it more difficult than most people to fight off infection.
In December, when another lockdown was announced after Charlie had already spent months indoors due to the Covid pandemic, he broke down in tears.
Speaking from their home on the Saxon’s Gate Estate, Charlie’s mother Laura, 31, said: “My son said ‘I am locked in this house because people will not do as they are told’.
“I want to do something to help him. Charlie and my husband Thomas both love golf.
“We want to build Charlie a shed in the garden so he feels he can get out of the house, there is somewhere he can escape to.
“He took up golf four years ago - he can’t play contact sports because of his condition - but golf is something he and his dad can do together.
“He would like a golf simulator in there, a device where you hit balls at a screen.”
Freedom
Laura said she decided to contact Elaine Hutchings of the group Helping Each Other - Lichfield and Surrounding Areas, which has delivered prescriptions and food parcels and raised money during the pandemic, to see if anyone could help.
“It is an appeal for the materials to build the shed,” said Laura.
“Giving a 13 year-old back some freedom would be amazing.”
Laura explained that the family does go out once a day for exercise but Charlie cannot go if it is cold or raining because of his illness.
Elaine Hutchings said: “If we can get Charlie a shed so he can have a bit of ‘me time’ and play his golf it would improve his mental health.
“His mum messaged me to ask if I know of anyone that could help.
“Maybe we could all pull together. If it’s something we could achieve through businesses let’s see if we can do it.”
Elaine said Logan Khan of Boss Partnerships had generously donated a golf set to sell so that the proceeds can be used for a computer to run the golf simulator.
“It is the materials for the shed we need, or an actual shed,” said Elaine.
“This lad deserves it - he has been cooped up since last March.
“To be able to have a bit of space and some chill time would be great for him.”
Anyone able to help is asked to contact Elaine on 07971 475138.
