Founders of North Waltham holiday home are Pride of Britain (From Basingstoke Gazette)
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Jane and Michael Gates to be honoured tonight
2:42pm Monday 29th October 2012 in Local By Helen Morton
A COUPLE who set up a North Waltham holiday home for families of seriously ill children are to be honoured at the Pride of Britain Awards tonight.
Jane and Michael Gates set up charity Sebastian’s Action Trust after their son Sebastian was diagnosed with a Wilm’s tumour in 2001 at the age of seven.
He told his parents of his dream for a holiday home for very ill children and their families just before he died in 2003, and after years of fundraising Jane 49, and Michael, 53, finally fulfilled his dying wish by opening The Bluebells last year.
The home, which has since helped more than 100 families, is the UK’s first such holiday respite house.
The couple, of Binfield, Berkshire, will tonight be given a ‘special recognition’ award at a glitzy ceremony which will be attended by Prime Minister David Cameron, Prince Charles, Olympians, film stars, musicians and politicians at London’s Grosvenor house.
The awards ceremony will be broadcast tomorrow on ITV at 8pm.
