What a titanic gesture... Kate’s £17,000 to keep girl with cerebral palsy alive
HOLLYWOOD star Kate Winslet has donated £17,000 to help keep a 12-year-old girl alive on life support as the family faces a huge hike in energy bills.
An energy adviser at the family’s local council has told Carolynne Hunter – whose daughter Freya has cerebral palsy and relies on an oxygen supply because of her chronic breathing problems – that her annual outlay could almost triple from £6,500 to £17,000.
After hearing about the dire situation, the Titanic actress donated £17,000 to a GoFundMe page set up by Freya’s relatives and contacted her mother to wish all the family well.
Ms Hunter, 49, from Scotland, said: ‘Our journey as family has been very traumatic and I just feel done at this point in my life.
‘When I heard about the money I just burst into tears. I thought it wasn’t even real. I’m still thinking, “Is this real?”’
Ms Hunter also spoke of her worries that the possible impact of winter power cuts in the event of reduced gas supply, a result of Russia’s war in Ukraine, could put Freya’s care at risk. Freya relies on the oxygen supply – particularly through the night.
The family require help from at least two NHS nurses or staff from self-directed support.
They monitor Freya’s heart rate as well as oxygen levels and carry out frequent suctioning to keep her airways clear.
In recent months Freya’s room was the only one to be heated in order to keep her and the staff comfortable – but Ms Hunter said they have had to cut back.
She said: ‘We’re still freezing and we’re not even at minus temperatures yet. I am nipping at the staff not to put the heating on unless it’s necessary.
‘The council have put solar panels up to help but I don’t think it’ll help with the bill.’
The Hunters live in a large council house in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire. At present it costs them £6,500 a year to run the kit and heat the home, although Ms Hunter said she had turned the heating off in most rooms to save money.
She added she would like to see the Government stepping in to support families struggling with care responsibilities.
She said: ‘I didn’t speak out to get donations, but at the same time I have to make sure that Freya is OK. I’m going to be helped, but what about everyone else? I wanted the Government to pay for it and do the right thing. It shouldn’t have to be a celebrity that steps in.’
Freya’s plight was featured in the Scottish Mail on Sunday last month and afterwards the matter was discussed in First Minister’s Questions at Holyrood.
Ms Winslet, who has yet to comment on the donation, is a patron of The Family Haven, a charity formed to help disadvantaged and vulnerable families in Gloucestershire.
Her upcoming Channel 4 feature film, I Am Ruth, set for release this year, sees her as Ruth, the mother of a character also called Freya – played by Winslet’s own daughter, 22-year-old Mia Threapleton – affected by social media.
Winslet co-wrote the script – which looks at the mental health crisis hitting young people in the UK – alongside Dominic Savage, series creator of the I Am… anthology of standalone dramas.