Care at Christmas Campaign: Support the vital work of Acorns Children's Hospice and give families the festive season they deserve
The Express & Star is launching the Care at Christmas campaign to raise awareness of the work of Acorns Children Hospice which looks after West Midlands children and teenagers with life-limiting conditions.
Over the years the care trust has attracted vital fundraising support from residents, schools, faith groups, community organisations and businesses towards running costs of £35,000 per day for three sites including the Black Country centre located in Walstead Road in Delves in Walsall. Two-thirds of this amount comes from donations provided by generous members of the public.
The newspaper campaign is aiming to boost fundraising the hospice's fundraising efforts amid its valiant efforts to attract more government cash to plug a financial gap which has left many many good causes including Acorns Children's Hospice struggling.
The hospice has cared for almost 800 children in the past year. The dedicated staff and volunteer provide palliative nursing care and support to babies, children and young people aged up to 18-years-old who have life limiting or life threatening conditions.
Amid the upset and heartache experienced by families the charity offers them emergency and end-of-life care, respite stays, symptom management, therapeutic and psychosocial support, bereavement support, sibling services and family support.
The care given is tailored for each child and includes all their medical, emotional, cultural, religious and spiritual needs within the hospice setting, in the community and in the child's family home.
Acorns chief executive Trevor Johnson said: "Every bake sale and workplace fundraiser you hold, charity event you sign up to, cash gift you give, donation and purchase you make in our shops - each act of kindness enables us to give specialist, compassionate, and life-changing care that supports families during their darkest hours."
This year Acorn's bosses and families have also been at the forefront of a national campaign to attract more funding for cover the services offered.
Parents of children cared for by Acorns travelled to 10 Downing Street met MPs in Westminster to discuss the future funding of hospices.
Among them was Liz Bishop, whose daughter Lily-Mai received care at Acorns' Worcester centre.
"The response from MPs has been really positive and it’s wonderful to know they will continue to raise this important issue in Parliament.
“To think there could be families like ours in the future who will miss out on vital care is really worrying. I hope the Government listens to our campaign and does something urgently to make sure Acorns, and every children’s hospice is protected,” Liz said.
Among the stories being featured as part of the children's hospice's own current Christmas campaign is that of Thea’s Gift. This is which tells the story of Karen and Johnathan Ritchie and how their miracle daughter Thea defied the odds to stay with her mum, dad and big brother Rupert for a little while longer after being diagnosed with rare glycine disorder Nonketotic Hyperglycinemia which causes seizures. Baby Thea was born on August 24, last year and died just 23 days old.
The trust has been running for 36 years and the Black Country centre in Walsall was previously known as Rainbow House with Princess Diana among its patrons.
How to Give: acorns.org.uk/Star-Appeal
