The Charity
Children’s Hospices UK
Being told your child will die before you do is every parent’s worst nightmare. But this nightmare is a reality for an estimated 25,000 families across the UK. Some of these children will die when they’re very young; others will deteriorate slowly over a number of years. In most cases, full-time care falls to the parents – 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The families affected are under huge emotional, physical and financial strain.
Children’s hospice services help children, young people and their families in these situations to deal with the emotional and physical challenges they face and to make the most of life. They welcome the whole family for a break in friendly, homely surroundings and provide practical help in people’s own homes. They offer a wide range of services including specialist care, 24-hour telephone support, advice and information, and bereavement support for all family members. Each service is an independent charity that relies on donations from the public to continue its work.
About Children’s Hospices UK
Children's Hospices UK is the national charity that gives voice and support to all children’s hospice services. Their vision is for every child and young person who is not expected to reach adulthood and their family to have access to the highest standards of children’s hospice care and support close to home. Through your support you can help make this vision a reality, ensuring that all children and their families have the care and support they need for every step of their journey.
Daisy’s story
“Our daughter Daisy was born two months prematurely and spent the first two months of her life in hospital. After extensive tests she was diagnosed with Costello Syndrome, which means she has an increased risk of cancer, heart problems, orthopaedic problems, gastrointestinal problems - in fact problems in every area. Daisy spent most of her first year in and out of hospital, fighting infections, undergoing procedures, and battling with an inability to put on weight. She had a permanent feeding tube in her stomach and received all nutrition via a pump running for 20 hours a day.
“Having reached our lowest point, we were thrown a lifeline in the form of CHASE children’s hospice in Guilford. CHASE provides emotional and practical support on so many levels. CHASE nurses visit us at home and give us a break from the round the clock care Daisy requires and when she is in hospital they sit with her so that I can spend time with our other children, as well as offering a listening ear when the going gets tough.
“With less than 200 cases in the world and a wide spread of manifestations it is really difficult to know how long we have Daisy for and that is why CHASE is so important for us. It allows us to have quality time and support for Daisy for however long we have her.
“We are not alone in our situation; we are one of thousands of families trying to struggle through life with a life-limited child. All over the UK, hospice services like CHASE are helping families like us. By supporting Barclay’s LifeCycle you will be making a real difference to children and families across the country.”
Stephanie & Andy Nimmo, Daisy’s parents
Quote from Barbara Gelb, Chief Executive Children’s Hospices UK:
“We are delighted with Barclays’ enthusiasm and commitment to Children’s Hospices UK and the LifeCycle event. Children’s hospice services rely overwhelmingly on donations from the public and businesses to continue their invaluable work.
“By visiting children’s hospices along the route, the LifeCycle team will be able to see firsthand the difference they make to the lives of those children and young people who will not live to see adulthood, and their families .
“The money raised through LifeCycle will make a significant difference to the thousands of families who so desperately need the support provided by their local children’s hospice service.”