Across the UK, children’s hospices just like Julia’s House are being pushed to their limits, with more and more children in need of their care.

Together For Short Lives, the charity behind Children’s Hospice Week, estimates that in the UK there are 99,000 children with life-shortening or life-threatening conditions. This figure will continue to rise as advances in medical science mean that more children with these conditions are living longer.

Julia’s House exists to reach these families throughout Wiltshire and Dorset, providing the expert nursing and care support they need before crisis sets in and they reach breaking point.

“Many of the seriously ill children and families we support have been pushed to their limits over the last year. The pandemic has been isolating and exhausting for them and we have been by their side to give them a much needed break and keep them going,” says Mike Bartlett, Deputy CEO of Julia’s House. 

“More and more families rely on our vital support and we need to continue raising funds to help everyone who needs us.  During Children’s Hospice Week, we’re launching a new summer fundraiser – the Julia’s House Get Together. 

"As we are all starting to get back together with our own family and friends, we would love people to hold a special celebration and fundraise for us, so we can keep on caring for local families.”

Getting together for Julia’s House

The Julia’s House Get Together invites you to host a special event for your friends, families or colleagues this summer.  It couldn’t be easier - choose a date and venue, pick a theme from a midsummer BBQ to a cocktail evening, invite your guests and in return ask them to raise money that will provide care, comfort and support for families with the most seriously ill children.  There’s never been a better reason to enjoy a social gathering with your favourite people. To get you inspired, the Julia’s House website has some great resources including recipe ideas, fundraising tips and a personalised invitation.

Life’s a juggle

Tammy juggles life caring for her two children - teenage daughter Talee and 10-year old Tehya, who has a rare genetic condition which affects her growth, her breathing and her muscles. As a baby, Tehya also developed retinal cancer and had to have an eye removed and a prosthetic eye fitted. The lockdowns were particularly hard for the family. Tammy says, “If I knew what lay ahead of us, I feel like I would have breathed in and just not breathed out.  We moved house at the start of lockdown, too.  It felt like we lost everything overnight – our home, our family and our support network.  We felt so isolated and alone, but Julia’s House was a lifeline.  The nurses and carers called me all the time and would pick up medicine and other essentials for us, or collect Tehya in her wheelchair and take her out for a long walk. I couldn’t imagine our lives without them.  It’s just a total support network.”

By hosting a get together with your friends and family you can play your part in helping Julia’s House provide this vital lifeline of support. And as a thank you, when you raise more than £100 you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win a luxury hamper from Cherry Picked Hampers and vouchers for Hall & Woodhouse worth £100.

Sign up today by visiting www.juliashouse.org/get-together