A mother whose daughter depends on life-support equipment around the clock has started a national fundraising campaign to help other families struggling with high energy bills. The move comes a year after Hollywood actress Kate Winslet stepped in to pay off her own rising energy costs. Carolynne Hunter, a 50-year-old project lead for the charity Pamis who lives in Stirlingshire, Scotland, faced annual electricity bills of up to £17,000 to keep her 13-year-old daughter Freya alive. Freya has severe and complex health needs. She is non-verbal and blind, and depends on a constant oxygen supply and nursing care at home around the clock. Local council officials warned that running the medical equipment Freya needs, along with heating their home in Tillicoultry, would cause their energy bills to rise sharply. In response, Ms Hunter launched an online fundraising appeal in late 2022. Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet donated £17,000 directly to the campaign after following Ms Hunter's public efforts to highlight the pressures faced by unpaid carers. After receiving the donation, Ms Hunter confirmed that she no longer had to worry about paying her immediate heating and electricity bills. She then joined forces with GoFundMe to launch a new campaign to help other families across Scotland who care for children with life-shortening conditions.
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