Racing Presenter Oli Bell Talks to WellChild Family Ahead of The Festival

WellChild Ambassador and ITV Racing Presenter Oli Bell has been hearing from a WellChild family about what life is currently like for them ahead of this year’s Cheltenham Festival, where WellChild is the official charity.

WellChild, the national charity for seriously ill children, is being supported by The Jockey Club at The Festival for the third year. Oli met Nerys Daniels and her son Toby Weaver, who has serious health needs, to hear how they are coping.

Nerys who is from Gloucestershire and lives in Bristol, told Oli in a Zoom call about the difficulties she and Toby face due to the cost-of-living crisis and energy price rises.

A member of the WellChild Family Tree peer to peer support network, Nerys told Oli about how the charity has helped families like hers including organising Giddy Up for Good with Cotswold Riding for the Disabled where Toby was able to come along and meet the ponies.

Currently the situation for families is particularly tough. They have come out of a desperate situation during the COVID-19 pandemic and into the crippling cost-of-living crisis which badly affects the families WellChild supports. The average energy bill for a family with a disabled child is twice that of the average household. Many rely on electrical equipment round the clock such as ventilators and feeding pumps just to keep their children alive.