Police HQ Raises Hundreds To Thank Sick Children's Trust for Supporting Staff's Family

Wymondham Police Headquarters has raised £365 in a Big Chocolate Tea event to thank The Sick Children’s Trust for supporting one of the force’s family when their little girl fought for her life in hospital.

Norfolk Constabulary’s Claire and Stefano Cabrini’s baby daughter, Giuliana, was born five weeks prematurely, weighing less than 5lb. At just two days old she was rushed over 100 miles away to Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, for life-saving treatment.

Giuliana was born with a condition where a gap in her oesophagus meant she was unable to swallow, alongside four heart defects. The little fighter spent two months in hospital undergoing three operations including throat surgery, heart surgery and bowel surgery after complications from the bowel disease necrotising enterocolitis. During this time, her family – including big brother Leonardo - were supported by The Sick Children’s Trust’s ‘Home from Home’ accommodation, Rainbow House, enabling them to stay close to their Giuliana’s hospital bedside.

Mum Claire, who works as an administrator for the Norfolk Constabulary, says: “During this heart-wrenching time, having the support of The Sick Children’s Trust was so valuable. Rainbow House became my ‘Home from Home’ for two months and meant I could be there to support my baby through her operations and treatment.

“Not only did Rainbow House mean I could be with Giuliana, it meant that my son could be with us too. He would come up with his dad every weekend and visit his little sister – it was so important they bonded in those early days, which Rainbow House allowed.

“We wanted to thank The Sick Children’s Trust for its support, so we decided to get involved with its biggest annual fundraiser, Big Chocolate Tea. Big Chocolate Tea encourages people to get together with friends and colleagues to throw a chocola-tea event and raise at least £30 to support a family for one night in a ‘Home from Home’.

“Without the support of the Norfolk Constabulary, we wouldn’t have been able to raise so much and help support many more families. The team have been great in supporting us through this whole journey so we would like to thank them very much.”

The Sick Children’s Trust’s Big Chocolate Tea fundraising campaign aims to raise thousands of pounds to help support more families across the UK with ‘Home from Home’ accommodation when their child is sick in hospital.

It costs on average £30 per night to support a family in one of the charity’s ten ‘Homes from Home’ which includes access to communal kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms and dining rooms alongside a direct telephone line from each bedroom to the hospital ward. Rainbow House Manager, Sandra Williams, says:

“We are so thankful to Claire, Stefano and the whole of Norfolk Constabulary for their continued support in raising money for Big Chocolate Tea. The money raised by the campaign will help us provide ‘Home from Home’ accommodation to around 4,000 families this year. The Sick Children’s Trust relies entirely on voluntary donations to keep supporting families who have sick children in hospital, and to keep them together during these traumatic times. If anyone else would like to help raise at least £30 through Big Chocolate Tea, please visit our website.”

For more information on The Sick Children’s Trust’s Big Chocolate Tea event, please visit: www.sickchildrenstrust.org