Friends rally round to help Max and family
Max Starkie, two, from Goose Green, who has autism, parents Gemma and Russ, sister Jessica, five, and family friends Chloe Charnock, with Wigan Warriors star Darrell Goulding who is supporting a fund-raiser day for him
A WIGAN Warriors star has pledged his support for a campaign to raise vital cash for a two-year-old who has autism.
Gemma and Russ Starkie, 27, of Goose Green, are desperately fund-raising to afford treatment for their son, Max, who has autism, and have received the full backing of rugby ace Darrell Goulding
Following research, they found a treatment centre in America – the Son-Rise programme – which provides effective teaching and advice on how to help learning development.
The couple spend around £800 per month on the Son-Rise programme and bio-med treatment.
Gemma, 28, said: “I knew Max had autism last September but he was only diagnosed in April. We thought he was a bit deaf at first, as he was not responding to us and he had lost his language skills.
“We were not able to get conclusive results and we pushed all the way. We knew we had to do it ourselves. We found Son-Rise and we started bio-med treatment,
“At the beginning it was horrendous, as I felt like I was losing Max. But I feel stronger now we have Son-Rise as Max is moving forward, We work as a big team as the whole family is involved in helping and spending time with him, working about 40 hours a week in his play room. We are grateful to Darrell for supporting us and really pleased we will be able to get people to know what happened to our son and what help there is.”
Darrell said: “Max is such a happy little child. It is such a shame it is such hard work for them.
“I just want to raise awareness and get funds as his parents pay for his treatments, which cost a lot.”
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Weather for Wigan
Saturday 04 February 2012
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Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
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