Marvellous Max steps out to raise funds
Young carers have thousands of reasons to thank marvellous Max Terris for his support during 2020.
For his appeal to honour them for their own efforts during the coronavirus pandemic has now topped the £3,000 mark after initially aiming to raising hundreds of pounds.
Max ,21, from Sunderland, was sponsored £1 a day by a relative for every walk he completed after the first lockdown in March.
He soon decided to donate the money towards young carers supported by Sunderland Carers Centre, in Thompson Road, wherehis mother works.
His family have never missed a day’s walk since and have already clocked up more than 1,000 miles.
The money will be used by the centre – which supports 830 young carers from the age of five upwards across the city – to fund a thank you party when social distancing restrictions ease.
Chief executive Amanda Brown said: "He is so inspirational and the the fact that it was his own idea says so much about him as a person. He has done absolutely amazing.”
Max, who attends Springboard Futures, which provides further education and supported training to people with a recognised autistic spectrum
disorder, learning difficulties or disabilities, is no stranger to the centre.
Since mum Julie joined the team in July 2017, he has helped out at summer fetes, charity coffee mornings and afternoon teas.
The pair are joined by dad Cliff and Casper, the family’s 11-year-old cocker spaniel, as they walk up to four miles day around the Herrington area.
Proud Julie said: “We are still going out whatever the weather and sometimes we
are out twice a day.”
Max added: “They are lovely people and I just wanted to help.”
Donations have included £1,000 from Paul Mackings, a patron at the centre, who added :“What he has done is fan t as
tic and so selfless in thinking of the sacrifices that the young carers are making for their families.”
Max’s efforts have also earned him the honour of becoming Northumbria Police’s first Community Hero for
Wearside.
PC Louise Turnbull, who works in the north of the city, said: “There wasn’t a dry eye when I presented him with his certificate.
"He should be very proud of himself ”.