Children’s Hospice Week (23 to 29 May) is an annual awareness and fundraising week for families caring for seriously ill children and celebrating the organisations that support them.
This year the campaign aims to improve public understanding of what life is like for families caring for seriously ill children, and how children’s palliative care services support families and help them treasure their time together.
There are 49,000 children and young people in the UK living with a life-shortening condition – and the number is rising.
The impact on families caring for a seriously ill child can be enormous, with an estimated 100,000 parents and 50,000 siblings affected. Many relationships suffer as a result with 36% experiencing family breakdown.
Short breaks, provided by children’s hospice services, can be a lifeline to children and families.
“Caring for a child 24/7 can be exhausting, that’s why short breaks are so essential and can relieve some of the pressure on families and help them spend time together,” explained Barbara Gelb, CEO of Together for Short Lives.
“Children’s palliative care services across the UK provide vital lifeline support to thousands of families so I hope the public will be inspired to support Children’s Hospice Week this year and help the 49,000 children and their families spend quality time together as a family.”
Share a family #ourselfie for Children’s Hospice Week
Throughout the week, Together for Short Lives will be sharing a number of stories, to highlight what life is like for families caring for children with life-shortening conditions and how services help families make the most of their time together.
The national charity is inviting people to support the campaign by sharing an #ourselfie image on Facebook or Twitter – this could be a family selfie, child’s drawing or painting, or a family picture from childhood.
It is also asking people to share what family time means to them using #myfamily – this could be a family memory, tradition or something special they enjoy doing as a family.
To share and follow the various activities going on throughout the week use #ChildrensHospiceWeek You can also follow the campaign by following Together for Short Lives on Twitter (@Tog4ShortLives) and Facebook.
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