Francis House Children’s Hospice Launches Christmas Appeal to Support Families of Seriously Ill Children
Francis House Children’s Hospice has recently launched their annual Christmas appeal, titled “Love and Life.” The appeal aims to raise funds for the hospice’s services that support not only the sick child, but their entire family as well. The appeal features a moving new film that showcases the support offered to families of seriously ill children.
The film, narrated by Jen East, mother of 11-year-old Florence, follows the story of her family from Dukinfield. Florence has a life-limiting condition and was not expected to live beyond the age of ten. The film premiered at the charity’s Christmas Ball, which raised an impressive £25,000 on the night.
The hospice, which has been serving the families of Greater Manchester for 34 years, offers a wide range of services including respite care, sibling support sessions, homecare, day care, and emotional support. In that time, the hospice has supported over 1,500 families, providing them with a warm and welcoming home away from home.
For Jen, Francis House has been a lifeline for her family. Florence was referred to the hospice in 2017 when she was just two years old, and the whole family, including Jen’s 14-year-old son Riccardo, has been coming for respite care ever since. Florence has a life-limiting regressive condition and needs 24/7 care.
Despite her condition, Florence is described as a “real character” with a “cheeky smile” and a “great sense of humour.” She loves socializing and participating in all the activities offered at Francis House. Jen says, “When Florence was diagnosed, our whole world was turned upside down. Someone told me about Francis House, and it immediately felt like a home away from home. It was calm and full of love.”
While most people associate hospices with end-of-life care, Francis House provides much more than that. Jen explains, “Francis House are there for Florence, of course, but also for me as a mum and a person, caring for my daughter. They’re there for Riccardo too, a teenager and a brother who has to deal with everything that comes with having a sister with a life-limiting condition.”
Riccardo, who absolutely loves being at Francis House, is also given the opportunity to socialize and bond with other siblings of sick children. Jen says, “It can be hard for him as a brother because Florence needs so much attention. But they take as good of care of Riccardo as they do Florence. He gets to talk, share, and support other siblings while participating in activities like going to the cinema.”
As the demand for their services continues to rise, Francis House has a yearly running cost of £5.8 million. The hospice supports over 435 families with respite care, end-of-life care, and other services. Rachael Taylor, the chief executive of Francis House, says, “Jen and Flo’s story is just one example of the many families who use our services all year round. Francis House offers much more than just respite care; it’s a place where memories are made, friendships are formed, and most importantly, lives are lived to the fullest.”
The hospice relies heavily on the support of the local community, especially during the holiday season. Taylor says, “As demand for our services continues to rise, we need the support of the local community to keep these vital services running. Any support you can give this Christmas is greatly appreciated.”
To watch the film or donate to the appeal, visit https://www.francishouse.org.uk/jen-flo-and-riccardo-story/.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.