Sons honoured for care of their father
RUSHTON. CARERS Northamptonshire Carer Awards held at Rushton Hall. Pictured are Young Carers of the Year Lewis & Lloyd Hilton with their father Peter.
TWO schoolboys from Northampton were among the winners of NHS awards for caring for their father, who has motor neurone disease.
Lewis and Lloyd Holton live with their dad, Peter, in Whiteland Road, Abington following their parents’ divorce.
Because of Mr Holton’s degenerative muscle-wasting disease, they are registered as his carers, helping him to live his day-to-day life.
However the pair, aged 14 and 13, who go to Northampton School for Boys, continue to do well in school and remain upbeat, leading to the Young Carers support group to nominate them for an accolade in the Jane Roebuck Carers Awards, which were held at Rushton Hall yesterday.
Trevor Frogatt, a Young Carers worker, said: “Both Lewis and Lloyd have had to witness the rapid deterioration in the health of their father due to motor neurone disease, alongside the breakdown of their parents’ marriage.
“Throughout this harrowing time, their school attendance and behaviour has been impeccable.
“They manage to offer bountiful enthusiasm and emotional strength to each other and Mr Holton, who feels very lucky to have such fantastic sons.”
Statistics in 2010 estimated that 17,500 young people in Northamptonshire, aged between five and 18, were acting as carers for a family member.
The large number includes anyone in that age group carrying out “caring tasks” either for a disabled or long-term ill parent or sibling.
Although many perform simple tasks on a daily basis, the official definition of a young carer is one whose life is constrained by the care they give.
Mr Froggat said: “They are instrumental in enabling their father to remain as independent at home as possible.”
Apart from the Young Carer of the Year, in 2012 the judging panel also recognised a Carer of the Year and Northamptonshire GPs who have been particularly supportive of carers.
n For the full stories of Lewis and Lloyd and the others recognised for their unsung round-the-clock care, read our special feature on the Jane Roebuck Carers Awards in tomorrow’s Chron.
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