When a child has been diagnosed with a complex or incurable condition, Little Havens can provide the care they need, ‘Making every day count’.Our specialist Care Team can support them and their family throughout illness, death and bereavement, in the comfort of their own home or at our hospice. We focus on their quality of life, caring for individual physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual needs, ‘Making every day count.’ We must raise over £40,000 each week to be there for every baby, child and teenager who needs us.

OUR STORY 

As a grandmother (me Susie) and Great Aunt (Sandra) of a child with a rare genetic condition we are going to raise money for Little Havens. Little Havens provides much needed care for many families like ours.  Evie attends Little Havens for respite and and gives her mum Sarah much needed rest.  In my daughter Sarah’s words “ Little Havens provides a comfort blanket, we feel safe and can be ourselves and not have to worry”.   Sometimes Evie will go for a few days and other times her little brother Max will go for a fun day and even myself.   It provides a safe haven for so many families.  It’s amazing for the children but as importantly it’s a lifeline to the parents. The first time I went I was apprehensive and somewhat emotional.  The fact that my granddaughter was going to a hospice was such a lot to take in.  But once there it was amazing.  So full of love and happiness and to see Evie so happy there was just heartwarming.  

So… the trip.  As soon as I saw the Trek advertised I knew I had to do it  - giving back to help all the families that attend Little Havens and also a bucket list adventure that had been on my list for a long time.  So who to ask? Sandra - always amazingly supportive and has wiped away a few tears in the past. Sandra and I had collected old Christmas trees for Lt Havens in January.  She was the one! It was hard work but we laughed all the time and the sense of achievement was enormous.  So time to step it up a bit!  It wasn’t long after I put it to her and that I got a “Yes”! We are funding the trek ourselves so any money raised will go to the charity.  It will be hard (bloody hard), hot, totally out of our comfort zone (no hairdryer, glass of wine or comfy bed) and emotional but so rewarding.   There will be lots of training to do but it will be so worth it. 

So a 5 day trek in Northern Vietnam in the Pu Long Nature Reserve and then in the Mai Chau region working at a  local community hospital working on a Palliative care project.    Painting, gardening, decorating or other hands on refurbishment type tasks.  Sleeping on the floor on mattresses in one big room (earplugs essential)!  We won’t go into the bathroom facilities - this will be a nice surprise for us both when we get there!

A couple of old(ish) girls going on a trip of a lifetime to help the lives of such special children and their families. It’s not a situation you want to be in but let’s make it a tiny bit easier for those who are. Wish us luck and help us with a little sponsorship. Every little helps as they say!

P.s apparently for a few Dong we can get a beer! (And I might even sneak a little lippy in!)

Please leave a message of support to us both- it will spur us on.

Thank you everyone from both of us xxx