During the visit, Simon met with Sister Frances Dominica, founder of Helen House and pioneer of the children’s hospice movement. As a long-term supporter of Children’s Hospice Week, the visit gave Simon a chance to find out more about the origins of children’s hospice services and to see first-hand the vital work that children’s hospices provide.
The visit came in the lead up to Children’s Hospice Week (26 April to 3 May 2013), the UK’s only awareness and fundraising week for children’s hospice services. With the theme of heroes, the week celebrates children’s hospices which, just like superheroes, are there for children and families when they need them most. The week is run by Together for Short Lives, the UK children’s palliative care charity.
“As patron of Together for Short Lives, it is always a privilege to spend time with the brave families supported by children’s hospices, and today has been no exception,” Simon said.
“Far from being the dark and gloomy places that some people might think, children’s hospices are bright and happy spaces, providing a lifeline that many families cannot do without. The thought of not having these places is literally unthinkable. Please be a hero in Children’s Hospice Week and help even more families make the most of every precious moment together.”
After chatting with children and families over tea and cakes in Helen House, Simon was particularly interested to also see the facilities in Douglas House, a hospice for young people aged 16 -35 years, including its music room, audio-visual lounge and bar and specially commissioned wide corridors for wheelchair racing!
Barbara Gelb, chief executive of Together for Short Lives, said: “Simon’s huge profile gives us a great opportunity to highlight the amazing care and support that children’s hospices provide and also helps us to raise vital funds. The visits that Simon makes to hospices give the children and families an enormous boost too – they love meeting him.”
Visit www.childrenshospiceweek.org.uk for information about Children’s Hospice Week and ways that you can get involved.
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