Brave Sebastian's last wish is being granted (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Brave Sebastian's last wish is being granted

10:06am Monday 22nd February 2010 in

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A DYING boy’s last wish has started to come true after work commenced on a holiday home for sick children.

Nine-year-old Sebastian Gates wanted to help other sick children and launched a fundraising campaign shortly before he died in December 2003 of a Wilms’ Tumour – a type of kidney cancer – that he battled for two and a half years.

Family and friends gathered in North Waltham on Thursday to see that dream finally become a reality as the first patch of earth was dug on the site where the holiday home will be built over the next 14 months.

On the day that would have been his 16th birthday, his mother Jean Gates, 47, director of Sebastian’s Action Trust, joined around 200 people to release balloons in the air to mark the special occasion.

Mrs Gates, of Binfield, Berkshire, said: “It’s a celebration of Sebastian’s birth but also a chance to say thank you to the many people who have given us fantastic support over the last six years and helped us to realise our son’s last wish.

“He would have been overwhelmed by the generosity of so many people.

“Of course it is also a sad occasion too because he’s not here with us to celebrate his birthday.

“Sebastian was a lovely boy, a typical nine-year-old and incredibly loving and very giving and positive. He never dwelled on his illness.”

Big-hearted farmer Pat Sweeney donated land next to the Wheatsheaf pub on the A30 for the building.

Mr Sweeney, 80, who has farmed in North Waltham for 60 years, said: “I thought it was very worthwhile.

“I had just come out of hospital with bowel cancer and after seeing all the poor people I realised illnesses like cancer can affect anyone.

“When I heard the home was for children there was no question of the need for it.”

The holiday home will offer respite for families of sick children and will have two four-bedroom apartments and leisure facilities including a swimming pool, games room, library and sensory room.

Sebastian’s sister Rebecca, 20, said her family would have benefited from the facilities when her brother was alive.

She said: “We had about 15 holidays cancelled at short notice because Sebastian was ill and it wasn’t just upsetting because we had been looking forward to it, but also because Sebastian felt so guilty, and it wasn’t his fault. He was just a little boy.”

Charlie Crick, 11, from Bracknell, has had a serious heart condition since birth and been supported by the trust over the last few years.

He said: “It’s brilliant because the house is finally coming together.

“The house will really help lots of people.”