Nursery launches fundraiser to give brave toddler with rare condition a magical Disney getaway
More than £1,000 has been raised
Astronomical insurance costs have put a spanner in the works for a family hoping to take their toddler, who has a rare neurological condition, to Disneyland.
Kolten Dyke was diagnosed with 4H leukodystrophy - a rare genetic disorder that affects the central nervous system - at only nine-months-old after his parents noticed a number of things “that weren’t quite right” including tremors.
The Waterlooville toddler has since undergone a surgery and has been hospitalised multiple times, and he now faces daily challenges including eating and drinking.
In search of some respite for Kolten and his older brother, Hunter, his parents started looking into taking their children to Disneyland Paris.
But when enquiring about travel insurance they were faced with a £1,300 quote for a couple of days away due to the complexity of their one-year-old’s condition.
Danae-Harriet Dyke, Kolten’s mum, said: “When he was nine months old we got his genetic testing back which confirmed he has an extremely rare condition. A week later it all went downhill. He was in hospital and stopped eating and drinking, so he has been tube fed since that moment.”
In January, the 28-year-old and her partner, Mitchell, made the “huge” decision to put Kolten into Growing Places @ Mill Hill Nursery, in Waterlooville.
The mum-of-two said: “We made the pledge that we wanted to go to Disney at some point next year but the insurance came back at £1,300.
“We were going to put it on hold and said we wouldn’t be able to go because of the cost. We couldn’t afford it and don’t have tonnes of money behind us but the nursery phoned me and said they wanted to help - I was so overwhelmed with emotions because people want to help us.
“They said they wanted to try and raise money for his insurance so we could go next year or early 2028.”
Kolten’s key worker, Maddy, launched a CrowdFunder to make the family’s dream become a reality - and it has already hit £1,040.
The fundraiser said: “Growing Places, and his key worker Maddy are asking for your help in raising funds to help cover the cost of his specialist travel insurance. We want to help remove this financial barrier so Kolten and his family have the opportunity to enjoy a magical holiday together filled precious memories.
“From everyone at Growing Places, Maddy, Kolten and his family, thank you for helping us make a little magic happen.”
Launched earlier this month, the CrowdFunder has already had 44 people make a donation, some of whom are complete strangers.
Danae-Harriet continued: “It has been amazing because there have been so many lovely people who don’t even know us that have donated and want to support him just as much as we do.
“He is defying all of the odds - he is so dedicated to making the doctors look silly and doing the things they said he wouldn’t be able to do. It would just be amazing to have a couple of days with no therapies and phone calls, and just be a normal family. His brother has taken a hit, he gets pulled from pillar to post but he has just taken it all in his stride.”