Sponsored Walk in Hyde Park for Children's Charity

On Saturday 20 August come and join The Sick Children’s Trust for its annual sponsored walk in London’s Hyde Park.

The event brings together families who’ve had a sick child treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and were supported by The Sick Children’s Trust’s free ‘Homes from Home’, Guilford Street and Rainbow Houses, alongside current families and staff.

Joining the families will be The Sick Children’s Trust’s Rainbow and Guilford Street House Managers Tina Thake and Sandra Williams. House Manager Tina Thake says:

“It’s a lovely day out for families and a great chance for us to see how they’re all getting on after leaving us. Having a child in hospital is always an emotionally difficult time, but we try to ease the stress of the situation when families stay with us. We end up forming really strong bonds with the families, so it’s nice to be able to keep in touch at an event like this.”

The Sick Children’s Trust supports over 4,000 families a year with free ‘Home from Home’ accommodation just a few minutes’ walk from their child’s hospital bedside. It costs the charity around £30 to support a family for one night. One family, the Mitchells, stayed at Guilford Street House thirteen years ago when their daughter, Rebecca, was in GOSH for three months after becoming seriously ill with pneumonia and septicaemia. Julie Mitchell, Rebecca’s mother, says:

“Guilford Street gave me a break, and it meant there was somewhere for my other children to come and stay on weekends. I was able to sit with them and have a normal family meal and even pop to the park.”

The event is open to families and children of all ages, and is the perfect family day out. All families will be given a special ‘spotter sheet’ and will be invited to join The Sick Children’s Trust for a lovely picnic by the Serpentine River.

It costs £5 to take part which includes a t-shirt and wristband. There is a minimum sponsorship of £30 per family. For further information and to register, please contact Tina at tina@sickchildrenstrust.org or visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/The-Sick-Childrens-Trust2016 to donate.