Published: Friday, 5th September, 2008 12:00
Nominate young heroes
By Rebecca Johnson
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COLIN Antink was a 15-year-old boy caring for his blind mother, Lynne.
This had been going on for years without much recognition or praise from the outside world, until the Pride of Bracknell Awards last year when Colin won the Young Carer of the Year award.
The night he received his prize from BBC Radio Berkshire presenter Henry Kelly, there were tears of respect, joy and pride from the audience as well as his own mother and aunt.
Colin’s story of caring for his mother, despite his own disabilities, was heart-warming. Both Lynne and Colin have the rare Sticklers syndrome which affects sight, hearing and mobility.
Colin has to wear very thick glasses and two hearing aids and uses a wheelchair when he is out and about.
One year on Colin, from Finchampstead, is celebrating getting six GCSEs at Kennet School and is a regular columnist for our sister Midweek paper.
He describes in his own words what it was like to win: “Shock was the first thing I felt when I heard I had won the Pride of Bracknell award. I just couldn’t believe I had been chosen.
“On the evening of the presentation I dressed in my best suit and mum, Aunt Bo and I all set off for the hotel.
“There was an air of expectation around us. When the time came for the announcements the lights went down and Henry Kelly, who had shared our table along with the Mayor of Bracknell, started to speak.
“We all clapped wildly as one by one the winners were called out and they collected their awards.
“Then I heard my name and I started to shake. As Henry spoke out about why I had been chosen, I heard mum say ‘well now I’m going to cry.’ ”
She did, and so did Aunt Bo. Copiously. I went up on stage and as the hall erupted I was dazzled by cameras
everywhere. I cannot begin to describe the feeling I had as I stood there, clutching my award.
“I still couldn’t get my head around why I had received such a fantastic award for doing something I had done for as long as I could remember...care for the mum I love.
“It meant so much to all my family.”
There are dozens more children out there who are in the same position as Colin and who go unrecognised for the heroic work they do.
If you know of any young carers who deserve the praise, recognition and thanks from the wider community for all the work they do, then nominate them for this year’s Pride of Bracknell Young Carer of the Year Award.
It would mean so much to them and we would like to show them how special and fantastic they are.
Simply fill in the nomination form below and send it to Bracknell News, Ocean House, The Ring, Bracknell, RG12 1AX.
The closing date for nominations is Monday, October 13 and the awards will be held at The Grange Hotel on Friday, November 21.
There are several catagories so ask friends and family to think of other people in your community who deserve a nomination.
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