Teddy bear picnic and family fun day bring in hundreds of pounds for the nook appeal
East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) has received £800 for its nook appeal following a church’s teddy bear picnic and family fun Norfolk Day event.
Holy Trinity Church in Rackheath, just outside of Norwich, hosted other activities including a mobile zoo that featured snakes, spiders and owls, craft stalls and a football competition.
There were free ice creams for every child who attended and a clown to provide extra entertainment.
Some 250 people turned out for the event that was supported and sponsored by Ecclesiastical Insurance and Barchester Healthcare Homes Ltd.
Tim Jenkins, EACH Norfolk Community Fundraiser, said: “We’re so grateful to once again be receiving the support of a Norfolk community group. It sounded like a really fantastic set of activities organised by the folks at Holy Trinity Church and we’d like to say thank you for your support.
“The nook appeal total is now over £8 million, so we hope that, with the continued support of communities across the county, we can reach the £10 million target sooner rather than later.”
For more information on the nook appeal, go to www.each.org.uk/the-nook.
Brighten the life of children with life-threatening conditions this Christmas
As Christmas shoppers come out in force East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) is asking you to add just one more gift to your list – you won’t need any extra wrapping paper but it will mean so much.
The charity, which cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across the region, is asking supporters to buy a light on their virtual sensory wall. The cost of buying a light starts at just £5 and there’s space to leave a personal message remembering a loved one or to show support for families who use EACH.
One family who has already bought a light in memory of their Amy is Tracy and Gary Hewett from Great Yarmouth.
Amy Hewett and her family received care and support from EACH at Quidenham when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Sadly Amy died in 2017 aged just six years-old.
Tracy explained: “Wednesday 13th April 2016 is when it all started. Amy went to school as normal about an hour later the school phone me and said something was wrong, that Amy couldn’t get up from the chair. We discovered later she’d had a stroke. They called for an ambulance and we went to the James Paget hospital where she had a CT scan and an MRI. The MRI showed a pea size brain tumour.
“We went onto Addenbrookes hospital – they couldn’t operate because it was in the brain stem. So we stay in hospital until late August so Amy’s symptoms could be controlled with drugs. We were the given the devastating news that it was a high grade glioma and that she was going to die. She had chemotherapy and radiotherapy but neither of these worked. She was constantly fitting but we managed to bring her home in the October and had support from EACH. The following March she had a big fit and was rushed to Quidenham hospice where we stayed until she died on Wednesday 3rd May 2017.
“Amy enjoyed coming to Quidenham. She loved all the arts and crafts, and the attention she would get from the team. It was difficult for her to go upstairs to the bathroom at home she enjoyed having a bath at Quidenham, especially the jacuzzi bubbles and sensory lights.”
“EACH’s support meant so much to us so please buy the extra gift of a light this Christmas to help another family.”
Tracy has dedicated a personal message to Amy on the sensory wall: “Missing you so much my darling Amy hope you have nice Xmas in heaven love mummy”
The virtual sensory wall is part of the Light Up EACH Life campaign. Light Up EACH Life will run from 1st to 9thDecember and will be a celebration of the life of every child and family the charity currently cares for and has cared for in the past.
Elaine John, EACH Head of Major Supporters, said: “Buying a light on our sensory wall will make so much difference to the children and families we care for – allowing us to continue the vital services we provide at a time when families need it most.
“We are also asking people to light up their homes, offices, Christmas trees and candles during the week of the 1st and 9th December to help us spread awareness about the work we do. We’d love to hear from you if you are supporting our campaign – use #LightUpEACHLife when you’re sharing on social media and let us know how you are lighting up EACH life.”
To buy your virtual light and for information on Light Up EACH Life and how you can get involved visit www.each.org.uk/LightUpEACHLife.
Inner Wheel pays for a day of care and support from EACH
East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) has received over £16,000 thanks to the region’s hard-working Inner Wheel clubs.
Supported by the charity’s fundraisers, the 450-plus members of the 14 clubs across Norfolk and Suffolk, as well as clubs in Cambridgeshire, Essex and Hertfordshire, have organised a range of special events, bake sales and raffles over the last two years. They have also sold goods and some have taken part in fundraising activities. Liz Thomas, President of the Association of Inner Wheel Clubs in Great Britain & Ireland for 2017/18, was among them and survived a daunting zip wire challenge.
The thousands raised means the Inner Wheel has paid for a day of vital care and support for children with life-threatening conditions and their families across East Anglia.
Liz said: “The challenge was to raise over £16,000 to fund EACH’s service for one whole day and I’m absolutely delighted, and so proud, we achieved this through the amazing fundraising of clubs in Districts 7, 8, 24 and 26, as well as Inner Wheel members everywhere who generously supported the great zip wire adventure. I thank them all from the bottom of my heart.”
Tim Jenkins, EACH Community Fundraiser, said: “A massive thanks to all the leaders and, of course, all the Inner Wheel members for the support and energy they’ve given us over the last couple of years. Support like this is invaluable as we rely on voluntary donations for the majority of our income and each year need to raise over £6 million from fundraising.”
The Inner Wheel has clubs that meet monthly in Beccles, Bungay, Ely, Felixstowe, Great Yarmouth, Hunstanton, Saffron Walden, Stowmarket, Thetford, Watton and Woodbridge, as well as three in Ipswich. They are part of one of the world’s largest voluntary service organisations that boasts over 100,000 members in 104 countries. For more information, visit www.innerwheeldistrict8.org.uk.
