‘Cheeky’ Max continues to inspire family’s fundraiser
A Bath mother has paid tribute to her “cheeky” five-year-old son Max, who died seven years ago today.
Kate Parsons, from Bath, said that Max was the family’s “hero” and “inspired” everyone he met.
Max suffered with cerebral palsy and was quadriplegic after having caught meningitis at three months old.
He died from complications of pancreatitis at children’s hospice Charlton Farm in North Somerset at midnight on August 5, 2014.
Mum Kate, 37, said: “Max was cheeky, so cheeky, he was inspirational really, completely lush.
“Max was such a good boy, I can’t be modest about him. He was just gorgeous in every way, he had the most incredible laugh, it was one of those giggles that would set everyone off.
“He was an inspiration to each of us – we always call him our hero as no matter how much he went through he was always smiling.”
Kate explained that Max was born alongside a twin, Benjamin, who passed away at 12 hours old.
She said: “When Max was three months old we found him blue and unresponsive, we did CPR and took him to the hospital where he was diagnosed with meningitis.
“We had already lost his twin brother Benjamin, at 12 hours old.”
Kate and firefighter husband Ben, who works in Keynsham, have organised a two-hour Zumbathon to raise funds for Charlton Farm, where Max was looked after.
The couple raise funds each year for the “amazing” team who helped look after their boy, and this year’s challenge will see up to 300 people join a Zumbathon at Bath Pavilion on Saturday, August 14, from 2pm to 4pm.
Kate said: “Each year at midnight we set off a balloon to remember Max and celebrate him. Me and my husband Ben and our other children, 18-year-old Josh, and nineyear-old James.”
Participants are being asked to donate £10 to take part, which will go straight to Children’s Hospice South West.
Kate said: “Max wasn’t relaxed in the hospital and it wasn’t a place we wanted him to pass away.
“We were offered Charlton Farm for end-of-life care and as soon as we walked through the door, we knew it was the place.
“Max started smiling and we thought, ‘Yup, this is right’ and where we wanted to spend our last precious days with our boy.
“Even though it was a very sad time for us, as a family we felt happy we were able to say goodbye to Max in a very special way, thanks to Charlton Farm. My husband Ben got to have his first and last swim with Max, which was so special to them both.
“He passed away cuddled up to us both, smiling still, it was the best end we could have hoped for.”
Kate says she wants to give back to the hospice by raising vital funds and awareness. Four years after Max’s death, she also started working for the children’s hospice and went on to work at Dorothy House. She is now training to be a paediatric nurse.
Kate said: “People in Bath don’t realise that Charlton Farm is their local children’s hospice facility.
“It’s currently supporting many local families who need the care and support offered by the specialist team there.
“Due to Covid the fundraising for all hospices has been impacted so I would ask anyone who is able to help out.
“Each hospice has to raise £3 million a year and there are three of them locally so it is a lot of money.”
Kate and her husband Ben have taken part in many personal challenges for Children’s Hospice South West, including its 205-mile cycle event Ride for Precious Lives, but the Zumbathon offers an opportunity for the local community to show their support.
Zumba is a fitness program that combines Latin and international music with dance moves and is suitable for all ages and all levels of fitness.
Jess Harding-wyatt, a qualified teacher who will be taking the class, said: “I am absolutely honoured to be asked to help run the Zumbathon. Kate is a close friend and I was privileged to have met her gorgeous son Max.
“Kate and Ben, along with close friends and family, have been working so hard over the years to help raise money to support Children’s Hospice South West, where Max spent his last days.
“The two-hour Zumbathon will be fun, joyful and energetic. So grab your dancing shoes and come raise money for an incredible cause!”
To donate to the cause visit, www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kate-parsons1608