Georgia Lane, the Regional Fundraising Team Leader for the Forget Me Not Trust gave a well-presented, comprehensive talk about the children’s hospice and its work. The facility gives support to children and their families with life shortening conditions – from pregnancy through childhood to end of life. The area covered by the charity included most of West Yorkshire although Leeds was also covered by Martin House.
Based at Russell House in Huddersfield the childrens’ hospice was the brainchild of the late Linda Senior who got together with friends to start fund raising for a facility after struggling to find support for her son Russell. Russell House has been operational for 10 years and offers an array of facilities for children, their siblings and their parents including a sensory room, support groups, respite care, hydrotherapy, and now a cinema room.
She also showed a moving video – Jack’s Story
Georgia, who was supported by her colleague Charlie, also explained how people could support the charity. They include volunteering, organising events, rattling buckets at various venues, sponsorship type events, donating. She pointed out that they needed to raise £4,000,000 annually and only had 6% covered by government.