'My friends don't know what it's actually like to live with it But, thanks to the children's charity Chicks, Max has been able to go on holiday three times over the last five years. Each was a week-long break with 17 other young carers or children from challenging homes, most of whom had never had a holiday before. "I get to bond with people my age and it gives me some time to get away from caring for Jake and some freedom," says Max. He grins as he tells me about the activities on offer: body-boarding, rock-climbing, riding, swimming and playing games with the volunteers and staff. It builds your confidence a lot because you can go up to people and make friends, and it's easier than being at home stuck with Jake and doing things for him. Your mum's not there to say, 'Max, do this, do that. You can just be yourself really. It's not just about the activities, though: every meal at the Chicks retreats in Devon and Cornwall is home-cooked and the children eat together at a table, something that many of them have never done at home. There is no television, no internet and no mobile phones are allowed. Now in its 21st year, the charity hopes to raise £1.4 million to continue helping around 1,200 disadvantaged children between the ages of eight and 15 throughout 2014, as it receives no government funding. "Places like Chicks give the kids a break to just be normal kids," Mandy says. Four of her children have now benefited from the charity's respite breaks, and she has noticed the difference it makes to the whole family. It's good for them. When Max comes back he's always quite self-assured. Still, each of the three times he has gone away with Chicks, Max has woken up worrying about Jake. "The first or second day I thought, 'Is Jake there, do I need to do that," then I think, 'Ah no, it's all right." Then you get used to it and when you come home it's a bit of a shock: I need to do this quick and Jake's screaming again. He can't tell you what's wrong with him. If he still cries, you don't know what to do. It's just hard. And, as Jake gets older, it is becoming even harder. The family now uses a hoist to lift him in and out of his bed, because he is too heavy to carry, and they are always aware that he is terminally ill. Over Christmas 2012, Jake had to be placed on life support for a fortnight and since then he has been in and out of hospital. "I get sad, but I don't cry," says Max. It's hard on you because you don't know if he's going to make it and it's your brother. I try not to think of it too much, and just be a normal young person. If something happens I'll call my mate and try to take my mind off it as much as I can. Yet it isn't the same as being with children who can truly understand his home life - one of the reasons he loves Chicks. "We can talk about each other's lives, what's going on and how they cope with it," he says. My friends don't know what it's actually like to live with it, but people at Chicks do. Now that Max is about to turn 16, he can no longer attend a Chicks camp, but he hopes to return as a volunteer. "After looking after Jake, I'm quite good with kids," he laughs. I want to bond with them really well and I guess just make them have a good time like I did. Chicks is one of three charities supported by the Telegraph Christmas Appeal, which closes on on January 31. To make a donation please visit http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/telegraphchristmasappeal/