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Becky

Becky is 17 and cares for her sister who has cerebral palsy, and her mum who has multiple sclerosis. Here, she tells us what life is like as a young carer.
Entry: 1
Date: 27/04/2006

It's a busy life being a champion carer, full-time student and celebrity, but Becky takes it all in her stride.

Hello! My name is Becky, I live near Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, and I'm a young carer. I look after my sister, Nicola, who is 20 and has cerebral palsy, as well as my Mam, Lynne, who has multiple sclerosis (MS). So, here's a little bit about me and what I do.

Cerebral palsy affects Nicola's learning, co-ordination, speech and walking, and she has to use a wheelchair when she needs to move about for long periods of time, such as when we go shopping. I started caring for her when I was little, by helping my Mam and Dad fetch things for her. When I got older, I began to do more tasks, like helping her to put on clothes or get in and out of the bath. I wasn't really aware of Nicola's disability when I was younger, and I've never questioned why she was born different from me.

My Mam, Nicola and I have always loved our girly shopping trips on Saturdays. When I was younger, we'd have fun browsing the shops and trying on clothes and shoes together - I'm sure you know what I mean! Suddenly, about seven years ago, my Mam was diagnosed with the multiple sclerosis (MS), and we realised we wouldn't be able to be as active as a family as we used to.

I really enjoyed having my family and I filmed, but I cringed a lot when the programme aired on TV!

My Mam had been going for lots of tests at the hospital for a long period of time. When the consultant finally told her the news, her first words were: "How can I have MS when I have a daughter who has cerebral palsy?" She said she'd try not to let the condition affect her life much so that she could carry on caring for Nicola as usual, but as the years went by her health got worse. She started to walk as if she was drunk, even though she doesn't drink alcohol. She needed the aid of a walking stick and then, in her words, 'graduated' into a wheelchair. This changed the whole family's life, and now we have two wheelchairs and can't do our girly days out as much as we'd like to. My Dad and I now share the load of caring for Nicola and Mam. I'm studying a childcare course at college, which is full-time, so Dad stays at home when I'm not there.

I started to attend Sunderland Carer's Centre's young carers' group about eight years ago. I've made loads of mates there - it's really nice to meet other young carers like me. The youth workers, Sue and Dave, are really supportive of us. Not only do they give me and other young carers help, support and advice, they're our friends as well. Overall, the group has helped me to gain lots more confidence, particularly since it's offered me some great opportunities. For example, in 2004 I appeared on the BBC's Songs of Praise during Carers' Week. I really enjoyed having my family and I filmed, but I cringed a lot when the programme aired on TV! I've also been on GMTV, Sky News, and Chat magazine. Making appearances like these in the media means that the public becomes more aware of young carers and the work they do, as well as how much they save the government in caring costs each year.

I've recently been nominated as Champion Carer for the Champions of the North, where I had the privilege of meeting Tim Healy and his wife Denise Welch, who presented the awards. DFDS Seaways held the event on their ocean liner, the Queen of Scandinavia. My family, Sue and I had great time, and my Mam and I went to Amsterdam as part of the prize for being a finalist.

I'm so pleased that Sunderland Carers' Centre gave me the chance do all this, and now I'm known to my friends as the star! I don't see myself this way, though - I'm just doing what any other young person would do to help their family in need. 


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