Kayleigh’s story inspires local woman to donate wedding venue to charity

A little girl who tragically passed away when she was just six years old has inspired a local woman to donate her wedding venue to The Sick Children’s Trust to help the charity raise vital funds to keep families together with their sick child while they undergo hospital treatment.

Local businesswoman, Kim Grace, owner of Gracious Styling, was due to get married on Saturday 5 May at the prestigious Carlton Towers. However, following the cancellation of her wedding, Kim made the generous decision to donate the venue to The Sick Children’s Trust so that the charity can launch its Big Chocolate Tea campaign with an exquisite Afternoon Tea. The event is to be held in honour of Kayleigh Logg, whose family were supported by the charity.

In 2010, Kayleigh, from Castleford, was diagnosed with leukaemia and required specialist care at Leeds Children’s Hospital. For a year, Kayleigh was in and out of the hospital undergoing intense chemotherapy treatment and later a bone marrow transplant. Sadly, despite her brave fight, Kayleigh passed away in November 2011. During her time at Leeds Children’s Hospital, The Sick Children’s Trust supported Kayleigh’s parents Nicola and Paul, alongside sister Lorna, with free ‘Home from Home’ accommodation at its Eckersley House, just minutes from Kayleigh’s hospital bedside.

On Saturday 5 May, Carlton Towers will open its doors to supporters of The Sick Children’s Trust for an exclusive Afternoon Tea event to raise money to support more families like Kayleigh’s when their child is seriously ill in hospital. Mum Nicola, who stayed at Eckersley House for 164 days, says:

“When Kayleigh was poorly, Eckersley House became such a huge part of our life. We only live in Castleford, which is about 15 miles from Leeds, but anything more than five minutes is too far when your child is critically ill in hospital. We all just wanted to be together and at Eckersley House we could be.

“When my friend told me that Kim had chosen to donate her wedding package to The Sick Children’s Trust because of Kayleigh’s story I was delighted. I called Eckersley House Manager Jane straight away to tell her the good news! Jane and the team at Eckersley House are like family to us, we got to know them during our time in the ‘Home from Home’ and they were always there to have a chat to.

“Because of Eckersley House we could be at Kayleigh’s bedside, day or night, to comfort her and hold her hand. We didn’t want to be anywhere else nor did we have to be because The Sick Children’s Trust was there for us.

“We have never forgotten the emotional and practical support Eckersley House gave us. Over the years, we’ve fundraised for the charity but Kim’s donation has reignited it. I’ve decided to fulfil one of Kayleigh’s wishes, which was to do a skydive to raise money for the charity! I’m absolutely petrified but there will be six of us facing our fears. We have also invited Kim to join us on the challenge, because if it wasn’t for her, none of this would be happening.”

The Sick Children’s Trust runs ten ‘Homes from Home’ across the country supporting families with seriously ill children in hospital. In Yorkshire, there are three houses supporting families with children undergoing treatment at Sheffield Children’s Hospital and Leeds Children’s Hospital. Although accommodation is provided free of charge to families it costs the charity £30 to support a family for one night. Money raised from Afternoon Tea at Carlton Towers will go directly to running these houses in order to support more families with children in hospital. Kim Grace, who is helping to coordinate the event, says:

“I wanted to turn a negative into a positive and once I heard about the support that The Sick Children’s Trust had given Kayleigh’s family I knew what I had to do.

“Tickets to Afternoon Tea at Carlton Towers cost £20 and guests can expect a great time filled with cakes, sandwiches and a glass of fizz! To buy tickets and find out more about The Sick Children’s Trust, please visit the charity’s website.”

To book your tickets, please visit: http://www.sickchildrenstrust.org/Get_involved/Special_Events/Afternoon_Tea_/index.html

For further information about The Sick Children’s Trust, please visit http://www.sickchildrenstrust.org/