Thanks for taking the time to visit our Justgiving fundraising page, in aid of The Sick Children's Trust.

In October 1993, as a newborn, our first child Charlie received life saving treatment at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital. In those initial days at the hospital, we literally slept in a chair in a side ward. It was awful, especially when Charlie was so poorly and after just giving birth, with only the public toilets to use and nowhere to wash. We were traumatised and exhausted.

But then we were offered a room by The Sick Children's Trust, in their house in Guilford Street, just a few minutes walk from the hospital. It was a beautiful, clean and comfortable house, with a kitchen and living room, a real 'home from home'. There was a telephone line in the bedroom with a direct connection to the hospital ward, so we could be contacted any time, day or night and be at Charlie's side in minutes. It became our sanctuary, a place we could come to and get away from the hospital for a little while. There were other families there with seriously ill children in the hospital , so we were a source of support to each other. And the house manager, Pat, was always there if we needed a chat or anything else. It really was a life saver for us at that terrible time, and we stayed there for nearly 5 weeks, completely free of charge.

The Sick Children's Trust was founded in 1982 by two paediatric consultants who saw first hand the families who weren't able to stay near their sick children. After a two year fundraising appeal the first house, Rainbow House, was opened, in London, in 1984. Since then, another 9 houses, all close to major children's hospitals, have opened around the UK, and 72,000 families have been helped with a welcoming place to stay when it was most needed.

It costs £40 per night to support a family in one of the 10 houses provided by The Sick Children's Trust. The charity relies on donations to provide that support. All families with seriously ill children want to be with their sick child in hospital and the Sick Children's Trust makes that possible.

In September and October this year, we're walking from Manchester, via the canal network, to London. We're planning to arrive at the Guilford Street House on Charlie's 30th birthday!

We really hope that you can support us by making a donation, or by joining us on the walk, or both!

Thank you

Catherine and Garry xx