We were very happy to have funded “Kids Cancer Charity” back in 2021 and we received a lovely letter updating us on their progress. They also asked for further support which we were able to help with.
Dear Trustees,
On behalf of the children, their families and the charity may I thank you for your wonderful support in 2021. Your generous donation enabled us to provide Respite Breaks for two Chester children and their families. I have included below feedback from families which helps to emphasis the impact of your support. Please would you consider helping this year?
Kids Cancer Charity was established in 1989 by a group of parents whose personal experience of the trauma of having their child diagnosed with cancer had highlighted the lack of information and support available. Our charity’s aims are to improve the quality of life for children with cancer and to provide their families with support through the unimaginable stress that they live with day after day. The charity is relatively small with 6 full time, 7 part time employees and 20 volunteers that last year cared for over 2,000 beneficiaries. Services include: Respite Breaks, Play Therapy and Bereavement Support.
We understand that a normal holiday is impossible with a child with cancer. Children are brought to our attention by Paediatric Oncology centres; notably Liverpool Alder Hey and Manchester Children’s Hospitals, Hospices, Schools, Doctor’s surgeries and charities for breaks either around their treatment or where a final memorable break for the family is sadly needed. We offer families 3 to 7 day Respite Breaks at one of our five mobile homes on the Welsh and Somerset coasts: Black Rock Sands, Porthmadog in North Wales, Lydstep near Ten by in South West Wales and Burnham on-Sea. The breaks enable families to relax in a tranquil environment, away from the strict medical regimes of hospitals and invasive treatment, to rebuild relationships which are often fractured in times of family crisis. The caravans are especially adapted for wheelchair use. The breaks are organised for them so that they can relax knowing that help is on had should they need it.
We are currently caring for 6 children and their families from Chester. Our North Wales sites are particularly beneficial for Chester families as they are in comfortable traveling distance from their homes and hospitals.
Our goal in the next 12 months is to provide approximately 220 families with Respite Breaks at an anticipated running cost to the charity of £128,000.
Compassionate Care UK Breaks
The Charity offers families a free Respite Breaks at one of our five caravans and cabin in Wales and the West Country. Often this will be the first family holiday since diagnosis and provides the whole family with an opportunity to spend time together away from the stresses of hospital and invasive treatment allowing them to rebuild the family unity. The parents also have peace of mind knowing that, if they do unexpectedly need treatment for their child, the best medical facilities are easily available and there is always back-up support close to hand.
Family Comments
‘Life has become so hard for our family at the moment. Please never underestimate what it feels like for a family who has a terminally ill child to have the help and support of strangers like you. Thanks for everything.’
‘We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved at Kids Cancer Charity. We have recently come back from a fantastic long weekend away at Greenacres. We all had a brilliant time and were able to spend some great quality time as a family. Thank you all so much.’
‘We wanted to write and thank you for the amazing holiday our family has recently enjoyed at your beautiful caravan at Lydstep. Since our son, D, was diagnosed with leukaemia, our lives have revolved aro\,Jnd hospitals and nurse visits. The chance to get away on a much-needed break and enjoy time together as a family is so precious and we could not have asked for a more beautiful location than Lydstep. We had such a relaxing and fun time and cannot thank you enough.’
“I want to thank you for this holiday, for it has given me my sanity back, and my family, for I felt that I was losing them. Thank you to everyone involved.”
‘We managed to spend some time with others, as it is so important to us, as J does not have any friends since she fell ill, as most of them never visited her again. That is why we rely on holidays for her fun in life. I would definitely recommend these breaks to others. We were very grateful to have this break, we really needed it.’
‘Everything was amazing. We could relax in a luxurious caravan that had everything at hand. The location is great as it is close to the beach. The holiday park has everything and the staff are amazing!We felt relaxed and stress free like we have not felt in a long time. Because it was free and all the arrangements were done for us made it such a huge difference to our family. It was a time where we could be carefree in a way that is very rare.’
“Many thanks for your generosity in letting us use the beautiful caravan. Bless you and those who make such holidays possible for people like us.”