Have fun with your family and raise money for The Sick Children’s Trust

Cambridge charity workers are asking locals to take part in their second Family Fun Day with live music, a raffle, dancing and more to raise money for The Sick Children’s Trust, a charity which supports families with seriously ill children being treated at Addenbrooke’s and The Rosie Hospitals.

After the success of last year’s event, which raised a fantastic £3,450, The Sick Children’s Trust’s Cambridge team, led by House Manager Abi Abdel-aal, will be holding another Family Fun Day on Sunday 9 July. The dedicated charity workers hope to beat last year’s total and raise even more funds to continue running the two ‘Homes from Home’ in Cambridge – Acorn and Chestnut House. They are promising an afternoon of fun with face painting, a raffle and live bands at Swavesey Windmill.

On the day, Abi and her team will be joined by families who have been supported by The Sick Children’s Trust’s ‘Homes from Home’. Families like the Charles’ who were supported with free accommodation when their twins were seriously ill. They stayed at Chestnut House when James was being treated in the neonatal intensive care unit and again at Acorn House when Alex and James were in Addenbrooke’s Hospital with bronchiolitis. James and Alex’s Mum, Kerrie, says:

“It’s scary to think what could have been had Chestnut House and Acorn House not been there for us. Having somewhere to stay near James and Alex was more than we could’ve ever wished for – leaving them on the unit was hard enough, but knowing we were just minutes away at night helped.

“The ‘Homes from Home’ are lifesavers for so many parents like us whose children are treated at a hospital far away from home, who are critically ill, undergoing lifesaving surgery or battling conditions like cancer.

“We are looking forward to attending the Family Fun Day to continue our support for this amazing charity. It will be great to see Abi and the team again, as well as meeting other families who have been supported by this great charity.”

The Sick Children’s Trust runs ten ‘Homes from Home’ across the UK, supporting families with seriously ill children in hospitals across the UK. While accommodation is provided free of charge to families, it costs the charity £30 to support a family for one night and the charity relies entirely on voluntary donations to cover this cost. Acorn and Chestnut House Manager, Abi Abedel-aal, says:

“We hope the Family Fun Day will raise vital funds and awareness of The Sick Children’s Trust and promote the support we give to families with children being treated at Addenbrooke’s and The Rosie Hospitals.

“We know that many people haven’t heard about our ‘Homes from Home’ until they need our support. Without Acorn and Chestnut House, many families would have to travel long distances on a daily basis, just to be close to their seriously ill child. But The Sick Children’s Trust’s ‘Homes from Home’ enable families to stay together during the toughest of times imaginable, just minutes from their sick child’s bedside.”

The event will take place on Sunday 9 July at Swavesey Windmill, 2pm – 6:30pm. Tickets are just £7.50 for adults, or £5 for children, and are available by calling 01954 232247 or emailing abigail@sickchildrenstrust.org.