Special dog would help Freddie get out into the world
A MUM has launched an emotional appeal to help her autistic son.
Freddie Haywood struggles with day-to-day tasks such as getting dressed and has difficulty coping with loud noises.
The seven-year-old, who was diagnosed with autism two years ago, also has trouble making friends and dealing with the outside world.
This has left him unwilling to step outside his Derbyshire home.
Freddie’s mum, Toni Evans, says his condition makes it difficult for him to remain calm when out and about, and in the evening, which creates problems when trying to sleep.
“Freddie is a lovely boy but he easily suffers from sensory overload and this makes him unwilling to go out, even into the garden,” she said.
“He’s not good at reading body language or interacting with other people. But he loves our rabbits and my brother’s dog – so much so he always tries to take him home with him!”
The 38-year-old says it is this love of animals that makes her believe a support dog would help Freddie to overcome his anxiety and have a chance at living a more normal life.
“I think a support dog would make it easier for us to be able to go out as a family; it would give Freddie something to focus on to stop him getting stressed and overwhelmed,” she said.
“The dogs can be trained to lie on their owner when they have a meltdown to help calm them down.
‘The other advantage to a trained support dog is that they can go anywhere, like a guide dog.
“I think this would help people around us realise that when Freddie has his meltdowns it’s because he is autistic rather than simply being naughty.”
However, in order to get the dog for Freddie, Toni, of Matlock, needs to raise £8,000 to cover the cost of training it. The dog would have to go on a 12-month training programme with Supporting Paws, an assistance dog organisation that teaches dogs obedience. It would train the dog how to help Freddie when things get too much for him.
The appeal has raised £1,845 so far, and is set to receive a boost from record-breaking football freestyler Dan Magness.
The 37-year-old, who is from Heage, knows Freddie’s family and says he wants to do something to help.
He said: “I’ve done several fundraising events over the years including walking from Wembley Stadium to Old Trafford over eight days while juggling a ball, and around all the Premier League’s clubs in London in one day, similarly keeping the ball in the air.
“I’ve met Freddie a couple of times – his mum is a friend of my girlfriend – and I’m keen to help the family raise the money they need for the support dog.
“As they need £8,000, I thought maybe I’d do something like 8,000 keepy-uppies a day for seven days. Covid has made it difficult to set up fundraising events so we don’t yet have a date or venue but that’s the plan.”
You can donate to Freddie’s fundraiser at https://www.treeofhope. org.uk/autism-assistance-dog-forfreddie.