The Autism News | English


PRESENTER Melanie Sykes has paid tribute to her son who has autism.

And as the former model revealed for the first time that seven-year-old Valentino had the condition, she said he was an “amazing little boy” who has changed her life.

She said: “I have never said anything publicly. I have known for five years that he has autism. But I felt it is his business. The thing is he is seven and is about to be officially diagnosed with it — and my family all think it is time.

“He is an amazing little boy and he has changed my life. I want everybody to know that if you have a diagnosis of autism today, there is so much you can do with your child. It is miraculous.”

Mel revealed his condition during filming of a celebrity version of ITV1′s hit gameshow The Cube, where she was competing for the charity International Pre-Autistic Network (IPAN). She wanted to raise awareness of autism.

Even though she is a patron of the charity, she said she hadn’t told them she was competing in case she went home with nothing.

But she ended up bagging a whopping £50,000 — and said she couldn’t wait to call them to tell them the good news.

Mel’s scenes will be broadcast as part of several celebrity specials when the show returns in the spring for two new series.

She said: “IPAN is a charity that looks after autistic children and they believe you can see signs of autism very early on from birth. They believe they can eradicate those behaviours if you can get it early enough.

“Valentino has been through this therapy and treatment. Within a two-and-a-half-week intensive course with a clinic his speech came back very rapidly. It is very expensive so the charity raises money for people who cannot afford to put their children through the therapy.”

Mel, who once dated Bros singer Matt Goss and actor Max Beesley, married Italian actor Daniel Caltagirone in 2001, giving birth to son Roman in 2002 and Valentino two years later. The couple divorced in 2009.

She told The Sun’s Fabulous magazine last year: “Daniel’s very much involved with the kids. It’s not 50/50 because they’re with me Monday to Friday.

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