A MUM who set up a dogs’ daycentre in memory of her dog-loving son, who tragically died of a brain tumour aged 13, has been put forward for The Chris Tarrant Award.
Toni Ilsley’s eight-year-old son Charlie was diagnosed with a brain tumour and underwent chemotherapy but, in 2018, the cancer returned. Devastatingly, the NHS could do nothing more for him.
Toni’s nominator said: “Nevertheless, she was determined to fight for him. Over the next two years she fundraised over £150,000 so he could receive pioneering treatments overseas.
“Heartbreakingly, in December 2020, Charlie died in her arms.”
During this time, Toni’s husband and Charlie’s father Mark was also diagnosed with cancer.
Her nominator added: “Struggling with unimaginable grief, she ploughed her energy into Charlie’s Dog Place, run from her Emmer Green home. Charlie loved dogs; just before he died, he confessed he wanted to work with dogs when he was older. It was her tribute to him.”
So successful is it, she has since moved to bigger premises in Sonning Common.
Employing a dedicated team of young locals, each week Toni welcomes Henley College students with special learning and educational needs.
The students absolutely love it as a source of therapy, said her nominator who added: “Her regular clients find Toni’s service and skills ‘one of a kind’; their dogs enjoy every second at Charlie’s Dog Place.”
In 2022, Toni established Team Charlie, a charity to support local children with brain tumours.
“I’m nominating Toni as she’s the embodiment of true inspiration,” said her nominator.
The Chris Tarrant Award, sponsored by The Oracle shopping centre, salutes someone who lives or works in Reading who deserves special recognition.
Toni has also been nominated for The Inspiration Award sponsored by McDonald’s which celebrates someone who has inspired a community initiative or inspired others to do the same. Or simply someone who is a positive role model for young people.
