9:12am Friday 24th February 2006
By Jenna Towler
A TEENAGER who suffers from a rare chromosome disorder will be serenaded by Spandau Ballet lead singer Tony Hadley at a charity gig.
Fourteen-year-old Saskia Herdman, from Latimer, is the oldest surviving sufferer of Trisomy 18, otherwise known as Edwards Syndrome, in the UK. People with the condition usually die before they reach the age of one.
Saskia, who is a pupil at Heritage House School in Chesham, has no mobility and is totally dependent on her mother.
Mum, Heidi Herdman, has used her 1980s contacts to get the singer to perform at a charity gig to raise cash for Saskia's care.
Mrs Herdman said: "My major hat is full-time caring. It is a bit of relief between the hours of 9am to 5pm on a week day because I know Saskia is being cared for at Heritage House.
"In December, the Government finally changed the means testing for disability grant.
"But we're still waiting to find out the results.
"I'm in the unenviable position of having to raise the money myself."
Tony knows the family through Heidi's previous career in music management in the 1980s working with chart toppers Go West.
Mrs Herdman said: "It has always been my aim to start up a charity to help families in the same situation. My motto is: A Life More Ordinary.
"In the 80s I was working in the same office as music business dinosaur John Glover who managed Go West.
"I was part of the management of Go West and we got to know Spandau Ballet through this association."
When Tony heard about the family's situation he offered to do a benefit concert.
The benefit concert takes place at St Clement Dane School, Chorleywood, on Friday, March 17.
© Copyright 2001-2010 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk