A brave youngster’s last wish will today be made reality as work begins on a holiday respite home for seriously ill youngsters. The house is a dream of Sebastian Gates, who passed away on Christmas Eve in 2003 after a two-and-a-half year battle with a rare form of childhood cancer. Today (Thursday) would be Sebastian’s 16th birthday and to mark the occasion a ground-breaking ceremony will take place at the site.
Just days before passing away, at the age of nine, Sebastian expressed his dream of a place where children like him could have somewhere to go away from hospitals and enjoy themselves. Mum Jane and husband Michael have since raised funds for the holiday home and formed Sebastian’s Action Trust – but were forced to battle with town planners to secure permission to build on the site. Having been granted planning permission in September 2008, building was delayed while the 17 pre-commencement conditions were met.
