In honour of Together for Short Lives’ Children’s Hospice Week, the Duchess of Cambridge has sent a personal message of support.
The Duchess is asking people to join her in celebrating the work done across the UK’s 54 children’s hospices – helping children and young people with life-limiting conditions as well as supporting their families.
Taking place from 20 – 26 June, the week is organised by Together for Short Lives, a UK charity for seriously ill children and their families. This is the only week in the year dedicated to raising funds and awareness for children’s hospices across the nation.
The theme of this year’s week is “For the Children.” As hospice facilities work to support young people with life-limiting conditions, everything they do is For The Children and making sure they can make the most of their lives with their families.
The Duchess’ statement reads in part: “For any parent, coming to terms with the news your child has a life-threatening condition and may die young is heart-breaking and incredibly frightening. Families can often feel isolated, but having the support of a children’s hospice means they don’t have to face that future alone.
“…This Children’s Hospice Week, I hope you’ll join me in celebrating the extraordinary work they do and thank them for the life-changing care and support they provide to children and families going through the toughest of times.“
Andy Fletcher, the CEO of Together for Short Lives said of the Duchess’ involvement: “The Duchess of Cambridge, as Royal Patron for EACH, is a fantastic ambassador for seriously ill children and their families and the children’s hospices that they rely on. The Duchess’s support for Children’s Hospice Week over many years has helped to raise awareness so more families understand the lifeline care hospices provide and all that they do to bring joy and fun to families’ lives – giving them the chance to be parents, not carers. We join The Duchess in celebrating the lifeline care children’s hospices provide for families facing the unimaginable.
“As The Duchess says, hearing the news that your child will die young is heart-breaking, and families often tell us they feel isolated and alone, and just don’t know where to turn to for support. That’s why children’s hospices are so vital. Everything they do is ‘For The Children,’ helping families make the most of every moment, whether that’s for years, months or only days.”
According to Together for Short Lives, there are 99,000 seriously ill children across the UK. Many of these children have complex conditions that require specialist care 24 hours a day and seven days a week. On the other side of the illness, there are at least 790,000 family members who are actively involved in care.
