Simba Kudyiwa discusses life as a carer for mother with MND

Simba Kudyiwa, a contestant from the latest series of the ITV reality show ‘Love Island’, has shared that he has been a carer for his mother since the age of 10. Kudyiwa, who finished in third place, revealed that his mother lives with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), a condition that causes progressive muscle weakness and affects breathing, swallowing, and speech.

Kudyiwa described the ‘massive responsibility’ of looking after his mother and his younger brother from a young age. He noted that the experience has shaped his character, stating, ‘I feel like it’s made me the man that I am now.’

Due to the progression of the disease, his mother is unable to speak and communicates using eye gaze technology to form sentences. A clip from the reality show went viral after Kudyiwa delivered a speech mentioning how his mother reacted to his career path.