Two brothers wear their Chelsea FC shirts as they visit the famous football stadium

“My bond with Charlie is unbreakable. We are very close; he is my best mate, the best big brother, and we just love spending time together.

We enjoy playing games online and doing sports like golf, darts, pool, and football. We love watching football matches and making each other laugh. Charlie makes me laugh by being silly, pulling funny faces, bundling me, and just being Charlie, really.

Charlie is warm, friendly, and welcoming, brave, resilient, bright, kind, and caring. I think he would describe me as friendly, kind, funny, and good at sport.

Diana, our Family Support Worker from Momentum, has made a real difference. Being listened to and having someone who understands has been important.

Momentum has organised some brilliant experiences that have helped me take my mind off everything going on with Charlie. One of the most special was a visit to Chelsea FC, which meant so much to us as we are both huge fans. We had photos and fist bumps with players including Cole Palmer, Reece James and Enzo Fernandez, and I even got my football shirt signed. We also enjoyed watching the match together and went on a behind-the-scenes stadium tour, where we saw the changing rooms and the post-match area. It was an unforgettable experience.

We went to Brands Hatch on a trip organised by Momentum. We got to see an incredible range of cars up close and even went out on the track, and our driver shared stories about the vehicles, including telling us about the cars that were used in different films.

Momentum organised music therapy, which has really helped me. I was able to take time out of lessons to attend, and I had the chance to explore and learn different instruments, including the violin, ukulele, guitar, piano, and drums. It gave me a way to express myself, away from everything going on at home.

I have also had art therapy, arranged by Momentum, where I created different colours and textures using pipe cleaners. These sessions gave me a space to focus on something creative and helped me process how I was feeling.

We have visited Momentum’s respite cabin, where Charlie and I were able to play lots of football and make new friends. It felt incredibly welcoming and homely, like a home away from home in the lodge.

When Charlie had to take time off school because of his illness, I found it particularly difficult trying to get through the day without him. When he was in hospital, it was just as hard – although we would FaceTime, it was upsetting to see him looking so unwell. Being separated was tough, and I often felt sad that I couldn’t be with him in person. At the same time, FaceTime did also help us at times. We were able to make each other smile and even play FIFA, which helped us feel like we were together.

When I was at school, it really helped to have someone to talk to and the opportunity to take extra breaks outside the classroom. Spending time with friends and playing basketball and football gave me a chance to switch off.

Going for walks, playing games and sports help me clear my head and cope when things feel difficult.

To another sibling who has a brother or sister that is unwell, I would say stay strong and don’t give up – things do hopefully get better. It can be really upsetting at times, especially seeing other children who are unwell in places like hospitals.

I think it would be helpful to have more opportunities to connect with other siblings in similar situations, such as organised sports events or chances to relax together and watch games. It would also be good to have more activities and creative therapies available in school, to give you space to process what is going on.”

Story taken May 2026