Billy Caldwell Foundation aimed at bringing hope to fellow sufferers
Thursday, 2 October 2008
Little Billy Caldwell
by Julie Moore.
The mother of ill Omagh toddler, Billy Caldwell, will be heading up a new foundation, set to be launched this month, which will sustain Billy's ongoing treatment in Chicago, while offering help to other families in desperate need of funding to improve their children's quality of life.
Charlotte Caldwelll - no stranger to the heartbreak that comes with tending to a child in need of 24-hour care - is to launch the foundation in a bid to ease the pressures of financing life-saving treatment for other families in similar situations.
Speaking to the Tyrone Constitution this week, Charlotte explained that following a meeting with the First Minister, Peter Robinson, and his wife, Iris, chair of the Assembly Health Committee, it is hoped that the 'Billy Caldwell Foundation' will be launched within the next two weeks.
Charlotte said: "Today (Tuesday) I had a meeting with them in Stormont to see if they can help, and they said they will do whatever they can to help. I feel quite confident that they are going to help - they are the leaders of our country, and Iris, in particular, has been so supportive throughout, she has been a great one to have on our team!"
Home
Explaining that Billy is currently back in Omagh, Charlotte says it will not be long before she and her son make another trip out to Chicago this month for further treatment: "Billy is in good form, but we are looking forward to getting back to Chicago. We came back because I was having a meeting with the Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey, to ask could he help in any way with the funding or could he implement the services Billy needs here, so he could come home, and he said no, there was nothing he could do here.
“So I spoke to the First Minister about this in our meeting and he said they are going to talk to the Health Minister and see what he can do."
Following the launch of the new foundation, Charlotte has set down three main objectives: "To sustain Billy's treatment, to help other families out in Chicago, like Katie Maguire who is out there at the minute - they all need financial help, and thirdly we are actually going forward as a foundation to set up a Centre of Excellence here in Omagh, and a therapy centre so children like Billy who have epilepsy can get the care they need."
Once the foundation is launched, a number of different fundraising events will get underway, with two already in the pipeline.
“We have a very generous developer offering a house up at a discounted price in a raffle, and there will be a Gala Ball, held on December 22, in the Mellon Country Inn. It is hoped that the First Minister, Deputy First Minister, and Iris Robinson, will be attending it as well."
Celebrities
Not only this but a few other local celebrities will be making an appearance on the night, with the Tyrone team having an invitation to bring along the 'Sam Maguire'.
Charlotte is encouraging the businessmen and women of Omagh to mark December 22 in their diary, with an auction on the night and proceeds going to the worthy charity.
“More details will be provided in the coming weeks, a website will be launched on the same day as the official launch of the foundation, detailing information about it and different charity events.
“Desmond Scott [Scott and Ewing Ltd] has come forward again this year to help with the Gala Ball, he was such a great help last year and it was a great success, and he has volunteered his services again. It is absolutely fantastic what he has done in the past."
Full of hope for the future, and gratitude for the generosity of the people of Omagh, Charlotte's meeting with the First Minister and Iris Robinson, has spurred her on to achieve her goals: "I would just like to thank the two ministers and Iris Robinson for their support.
Knowing all too well the reality of Billy's condition, Charlotte says she wishes she could come home, but knows this is currently not an option for her and her son.
“We can't bring him home to treat him here, he would die if I brought him back here.
“With his condition, because it is so complex, we are not sure what stage the treatment is at really, it is an ongoing process, it's a marathon not a sprint. We don't know how long his treatment will take, it could be a number of years.
“Of course, I would rather be at home, especially coming up to Christmas time, you would rather be with your family and friends.
“But I am hoping that we will be able to come home for a few weeks around Christmas time - because Santa will have to come to Billy at his own home of course!"
