News
Autumn 2016
Inside: Madison’s story Find out how you can help Meet Liz, Director of Care and our new mascot, George
Pictured: Angel, aged 2
/bluebellwoodchildrenshospice @Bluebellwoodch Credit to Antony Oxley Photography
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Helen Mower, Head of Fundraising
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We’re lucky to be surrounded by six and a half acres of beautiful gardens here at Bluebell Wood. This means children and families who stay with us can relax and play outdoors. Our garden is constantly evolving and changing. In the eight years we’ve been open, our garden has been transformed and we’ve added wheelchair accessible raised beds, an orchard, our Dragonfly memory garden and a sensory garden. Our latest addition is a fairy garden planted by Chloe, one of the children who visits us. We think it’s so gorgeous that we wanted to share it with you.
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Five children have had a once in a lifetime experience in the skies above Bluebell Wood.
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Jack, Kasabian, Ebony, Tyler and Lilly-Mai were whisked up into the air by Retford helicopter company Kuki Helicopters, who gave them a bird’s eye view of the hospice and surrounding areas. Vicky, mum of Jack, who visits us for respite care, said “Jack and I will cherish this memory forever. Jack loves flying, helicopters and aeroplanes and it has made his wish come true to be able to fly today.”
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in the air
Six intrepid volunteers took to the skies earlier this year for our very first wing walk. Among them was 66-year-old John Armstrong, who was inspired to take part after meeting Kasabian Newton Smith. Kas has Ewing’s Sarcoma, a type of bone cancer in children, and has had 11 bouts of radiotherapy since he was two years old. John was the oldest wing walker for Bluebell Wood, and was cheered on by Kas on the day. In total, our wing walkers have raised over £8,000. Thank you all so much. If you’d like to brave flight speeds of up to 130mph in an adrenaline boosting flight, then visit www.bluebellwood.org to find out details of our next wing walk.
Meet Madison Madison Sipson is a gorgeous, happy two-year-old with a wonderful smile. Her parents, Wendy and Gary, share their story.
“Before Madison was born, we were told that she had Duodenal Atresia and would need surgery; and that she would possibly have Downs Syndrome. Duodenal Atresia means a part of Madison’s small bowel had not developed properly, and she couldn’t pass through her stomach contents.
“This was a huge shock for us both - I remember us sitting and crying, just because it was all so unknown. Madison was born by emergency C-section at 32 weeks. I saw her for a few seconds and then she was rushed to the special care baby unit. Madison was soon transferred to Sheffield where we discovered she had two holes in her heart.” Madison then went to Leeds at just two days old to have her Duodenal Atresia operated on. In her first year, she moved back and forth from Bassetlaw and Doncaster hospitals to Sheffield and Leeds for specialist care, as she kept getting very poorly. During this time, Madison’s mum and dad balanced being by her side with caring for their other children; Harvey, aged 4, Archie, aged 2 and Ben, aged 11. Wendy says, “We felt the boys missed out on a lot as me and Gary had to drive to Leeds every day to be with Madi. When she was a few months old, Madi took a turn for the worst and got very poorly. She was put on a
machine to help her breathe. We were told that she had chronic lung disease. Our worst nightmare soon became true and we were told that Madison wasn’t going to make it, and there was nothing more that could be done for her. “Miraculously, after having steroids, Madison’s health improved and she was well enough to have her major heart surgery. The doctors warned us that she might not survive the operation, but she proved them all wrong. She’s a tough cookie, and a real fighter, and she’s still here with us today. In the first ten months of Madison’s life, she’s gone through what most adults couldn’t go through. “The first year after she was born, we hadn’t really had a Christmas as she was so poorly in hospital, which meant that the boys missed out too. For her second Christmas, we wanted to have a really special time, but on 23rd December she was readmitted to hospital. We brought her home for half an hour on Christmas Day, but she took a turn for the worse so we had to take her back in.” After she came home, Madison and her family were referred to Bluebell Wood for respite care, and Gary says,
“I was so sceptical at first, I thought - why on earth would we want to go there? But when I walked in, I realised it’s such a happy place. It’s so nice that Madi’s looked after so well, so that we can spend some time with the boys. Madi absolutely loves the sensory room, the musical instruments and painting. “We have lots of the pictures she’s painted with Di and Cathy, the Activity Co-ordinators, on our walls at home. “For our family, Bluebell Wood has been so much help, and I know if, when Madi was very poorly, we would have needed end of life care at Bluebell, we’d have been looked after so well. “I also couldn’t have got through this without the help and support of family and friends, especially Madison’s Aunty, Louise.” After an emotional rollercoaster for them all, Wendy and Gary are hoping for a lovely Christmas together as a family this year. Wendy says, “The boys missed out on Christmas for the last two years, because Madison was just so poorly. I can’t wait for us all to spend Christmas together.”
You can find out more about what your support means to families like Madi’s at www.bluebellwood.org
Night of Neon Ready, steady, glow! Saturday 22nd October 6.30pm Get ready to light up the night on our 2.5 mile family and dog friendly walk around Lakeside lake.
Tickets are just ÂŁ5 Get your tickets now at www.bluebellwood.org
Dress in neon, grab your glow sticks and get ready to shine!
We’re extremely excited to have opened our brand new charity shop in Doncaster this May. We’ve relocated from Scot Lane to our new premises in the King’s Arcade, St Sepulchre Gate. The new shop is right in the heart of Doncaster town centre, which will allow us to raise more vital funds towards the hospice’s care and support services. The shop was officially opened by Bluebell Wood child Kian Critchley, and his parents, Val and Tony. Kian was one of the first children to visit Bluebell Wood. He has Lissencephaly, Epilepsy and Cerebral Palsy, which means that he can’t talk or walk. Our Doncaster shop is open 9am-4pm Monday to Saturday, and is the perfect place to buy pre-loved clothing, toys, homeware, and electrical items, while supporting your local children’s hospice.
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Say hello! Unit 7, King’s Arca de, St Sepulchre Gate, Doncaster, DN1 1AN 01302 738 171
Our fabulous Dinnington shop re-opened its doors after a makeover last month, with the help of our guest of honour, Harrison Elmer!
Harrison, now three, came to Bluebell Wood for end of life care when he was just three weeks old, after he contracted meningitis. Fortunately he made a miraculous recovery. His parents, Sam and Adam, sister Hallie, and nanny Sally, were thrilled to celebrate with us in July, and helped Harrison cut the ribbon to officially re-open the premises. The revamped shop is more accessible to allow more movement around the shop. You can find us on Laughton Road. Our shop stocks the very best in second-hand clothes, toys, books and homeware. We are open 9am-4pm Monday to Saturday, so why not pop in and grab yourself a bargain? For a list of all our shop locations visit www.bluebellwood.org/our-charity-shops/
Find your bargain at 27 Laughton Road, Dinnington, Sheffield, S25 2PN 01909 565 200
Say hello to George! We’d like to introduce you to our very special mascot, George. George is a five year old working cocker spaniel who is a big hit with our children, families and staff here at the hospice. George spends his days creating hundreds of smiles on our children’s faces, before heading home with our Care Team Secretary, Debs Bryce. Our four-legged friend first came to Bluebell Wood in 2011, where he was given to Georgia Finlayson and her family, before she sadly passed away. Although Georgia’s family were unable to give him a permanent home, George was named after Georgia, and has a very special relationship with her dad, Harry, who still visits Bluebell Wood every week to take him for long walks around the neighbouring countryside. Because George makes such a difference to our children and families, when it came to choosing a new mascot to take to our community events, we didn’t have to look any further for inspiration. Please come along and say hello if you see him at one of our events!
If you would like George to attend one of your events, please get in touch with our fundraising team.
George
Make Sunday 30th October the hottest day. Take part in our Fire Walk!
Sunday 30th October Meadowhall Shopping Centre
4.30pm
Limited places available. ÂŁ30 registration fee and minimum ÂŁ100 sponsorship. Sign up now at
www.bluebellwood.org/events
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At Bluebell Wood we use music therapy to help children improve their health and wellbeing through sound and play. Our music therapy sessions sometimes include group work which encourages children to form friendships and develop their self-confidence. Our music therapist, Caroline, might work with a child with limited movement and speech, following their breathing and vocal sounds with music and singing to open up new means of communication and personal expression. Music therapy sessions can also involve improvised music, song singing, music technology or song writing. Caroline has been a music therapist for seven years, and has worked with young people with cancer, and children and adults with learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorders.
Dancing through the decades
Some of our wonderful supporters have been taking inspiration from the music of the past, all to keep the pennies rolling in. Our Support Groups have been feeling all 1940s. Our Dinnington group organised a fantastic 40s inspired afternoon tea, and our Chesterfield Support Group held a 1940s musical evening, with the fabulous Lah Di Dah Ladies.
The motor city inspired both HSBC bank in Bilton, who organised a Northern Soul/Motown flash mob outside the bank, and East Coast Soul Collective, who have raised a toe-tapping £25,000 for us so far at their Bridlington Northern Soul events. East Coast Soul Collective organisers Rob Wigley, Pat Brady and Rob Wicks encourage Northern Soul groups in their region to fundraise leading up to the huge Bridlington Soul Weekender event. From making retro clothing patches to DJ fee donations, we’d like thank everybody involved in this musical marathon. Steve and Jane Knight took inspiration from the 50s with their fantastic Ragdolls Frankie Valli tribute concert. Supporters were treated to hits like “Oh Carol” and “Oh What A Night” and the event raised a tuneful £4,800.
Check out our Events Page at www.bluebellwood.org to find more musical money spinners near you!
Introducing Liz, our Director of Care We took some time to catch up with our new Director of Care, Liz Webster, who joined the Bluebell Wood team in February. Liz heads up our Care Team.
So Liz, what brought you to Bluebell Wood? I first came into nursing in 1987, and since then, I have always worked with children and young people with life-shortening and life-threatening conditions. It’s always been at the heart of everything I do. When I saw this job come up, I just knew this was something I wanted to drive my passion, skills and education into.
What grand plans have you got? We’ve got quite a lot of grand plans that we believe will really develop Bluebell Wood. One of our ambitions for the future is to become a regional centre of excellence for children’s palliative care, and to act as a beacon for exceptional practice across the region. To do this, we are upskilling our staff and developing a teaching and learning strategy, which includes plans to open a dedicated teaching and learning centre within the hospice grounds. We also want to offer outstanding holistic family care and help more children and families in the local community. To make this a reality, we have extended our therapy and community services and increased our number of short breaks, which will help us be there for more families in the region.
Can you describe a moment that’s really moved you since you’ve been here? There’s so many moments to choose from and so many different things in the hospice that move you in different ways. After working with children with life shortening and life threatening conditions for nearly thirty years, I’ve never been so moved by a place like Bluebell Wood. We’re not just here to support the families but the extended family and friends as well. What moves me the most is the atmosphere we have here. Listening to children and families laughing at lunch time, seeing the joy on a child’s face when they are interacting with music, and being able to make unforgettable moments that will always be cherished, that’s what moves me the most.
Do you have an interesting non-work related fact you would like to share? Before I started my career in nursing, I was in the Royal Navy for six years. During my time in the Navy I became a qualified cook, dental nurse and I was also a Lead Wren.
COLOUR Dash 7 1 0 2 Rother valley country park
Sat 29th April
sign up at www.bluebellwood.org
Simon powers new world record. Pulling a 13 tonne truck with one hand was all in a day’s work for strongman Simon ‘Power’ Plant when he broke a world record at Bluebell Wood. Cheered on by the children and their families, Simon showed how his incredible strength, regular gym sessions and high protein diet made all the difference as he pulled a huge articulated vehicle an incredible 50 feet.
Benidorm or Bust Who’d have thought an old banger could raise around £600 for Bluebell Wood? Well one decorated by Bluebell Wood children has gone all the way to Benidorm to do just that. A team from EDLounge in Dinnington joined hundreds of drivers on the Benidorm or Bust charity road trip. Richard Howard, Jason Harris and Lee Bell drove the banger to the hospice for children to decorate with messages and handprints before it set off on its epic voyage. Richard said “The trip went really well. We covered 1500 miles in four days, visited three countries, often in 32 degree heat and walked 60 miles in total. Plus we wore onesies all the way. We did have a tyre blow out, but we’re sure the many good luck messages on the car kept us safe.”
Sennen fires up Formula 4 driver Sennen Fielding is fired up for Bluebell Wood this racing season. From collecting money in the pits to offering racing experiences to Bluebell Wood families, Sennen made us his charity after being introduced through his girlfriend Emily, former school friend of a brother of nine year old Theo Singh-Eyley, who receives respite care here.
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Fever l a v i t a i s i n g F es
Thousands of festival-goers descended on South Yorkshire this July, for two of the region’s hottest charity music festivals: Grasstonbury and Beanfest! If muddy fields and camping weren’t your thing, Grasstonbury in Chesterfield, organised by Polly Kennelly, offered music lovers a fantastic, family-friendly alternative, with live music covering every genre – from heavy metal to acoustic soul. July also saw the return of Beanfest, which began as a musical tribute to Rob ‘Bean’ Crook, who lost his life in a road accident at 23. The festival – which is now in its seventh year – featured some of the UK’s biggest tribute bands, including the UK Foo Fighters and Motorheadache, who took to the stage to raise money for Bluebell Wood. We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who helped make these events a reality. Without you, we simply wouldn’t be able to help as many families as we do.
Our adventurous partnership with Kingswood Kingswood Peak Venture centre, in Sheffield, is proud to support us as their charity of the year; and have sponsored this edition of our newsletter. Kingswood provides inclusive residential adventures that give young explorers from around the local area and further afield the chance to learn new skills such as fencing, abseiling and water sports. Kingswood centres are located in acres of countryside, providing the perfect settings to unleash young explorers, giving them the chance to experience the great outdoors - filled with exhilarating activities from zipwiring to water sports - all within a secure environment. It’s also the peferct place to be holding our next Adventure Challenge after the huge success of last year’s event. To find out more about our Adventure Challenge 2017, email Jo Berry on jo.berry@bluebellwood.org. Find out more about Kingswood at www.kingswood.co.uk, email schools@kingswood.co.uk or call 0800 655 6564.
Christmas Cele-bear-tion
Carol Concert
Whether your teddy bear is 8 or 80, bring him to sing along at our Christmas concert at Rotherham Minster.
Friday 9th December
7pm Tickets ÂŁ5. Bears go free. ix m a and g rin ern l u t Fea mod tiona sic of tradi mu ive t s fe Get your ticket now from www.bluebellwood.org or any of our shops.
Alternative Christmas Card Does the thought of writing your Christmas cards for work colleagues or social groups make you feel a little bah-humbug? Help is at hand with our alternative Christmas card. We’ll send you an A4 card and a collection box sticker. All you have to do is display the card and encourage your friends and colleagues to write their Christmas wishes inside the card and make a donation.
We know that everyone is busy at Christmas so we’ve made sure that paying in the money you collect is really easy. You can take your collection into one of our ten shops, send us a cheque for the total amount or donate the final amount online at
www.mydonate.bt.com/events/alternativechristmascard2016 This year’s card features five Bluebell Wood children and siblings and is a fantastic way to share festive wishes with friends, while supporting the hospice. To get your free card, call 01909 517 365, email info@bluebellwood.org with “Alternative Christmas Card” in the subject line, or visit www.bluebellwood.org/shop
Remem-bear a loved one this Christmas Issabelle Futter was a beautiful, courageous girl. She passed away at Bluebell Wood aged just seven-yearsold. Her parents Wendy and Andrew, along with older brother Benjamin, were by her side and wanted to spend precious moments together in the final moments of her life. Wendy explains: “Issabelle was so much fun; full of life, smiley and mischievous. She was outgoing, very caring and popular.” In 2009, doctors tested her for conditions including swine flu and appendicitis and in October that year came the news that no family can prepare for. Issabelle had neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer. She underwent an intense course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. “Remarkably, she seemed fine and managed to be herself in so many ways,” said Wendy. “Things never really phased her, she never complained.” When Issabelle and her family received news that the neuroblastoma had spread, they all visited Bluebell Wood and made the decision to move to the hospice. Wendy explains: “Issabelle was keen to come to Bluebell Wood as she wanted to sleep at that stage and it was far more relaxed here than in hospital. Benjamin enjoyed it straight away. We could all be a family again. We were all together the night Issabelle passed away; we could see she was peaceful and comfortable and that was so very important.” The family stayed in our Forget Me Not end-of-life suite while they made funeral arrangements. “It meant the world to us knowing that friends and
family could visit. It was a weight off our shoulders knowing that Benjamin was being looked after and entertained by the Care Team. All of this really helped Benjamin cope.” The Futter family are supporting our Remem-bear appeal this year in Issabelle’s memory. When Issabelle was born, her first toy was a teddy bear called Bearemy. He was her favourite teddy and went everywhere with her. Wendy says: “Bearemy never left Issabelle’s side; he went on holiday with us, to the theatre, and then when she got poorly, to the hospital. When Issabelle passed away, we put some of her ashes into Bearemy and he still goes everywhere with us. Mollie, Issabelle’s younger sister, gives Bearemy a big cuddle every morning. Bearemy means everything to us.” We’re asking you to support our Remem-bear campaign this Christmas by making a donation in memory of a loved one. In return for every donation, we’ll send you a dedication card to hang on your Christmas tree and a special limited edition “Bearemy” pin badge. Every donation will make sure we can support families like Issabelle’s through the toughest of times. Wendy said: “Please, if you can, give to Bluebell Wood’s Remem-bear appeal. Because when you’re going through the hardest possible time as a family, Bluebell Wood is where you need to be.”
To donate to our Remem-bear appeal, please see overleaf.
Donation Form Please fill in the form below and return to: Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, Cramfit Rd, North Anston, Sheffield, S25 4AJ.
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If you are happy to receive emails from us with hospice information, and details of events or fundraising, please tick here:
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To thank you for your donation, we will send you one “Bearemy” pin badge as a keepsake. If you would like more badges for friends or family, these can be purchased for £2 each.
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Gift Aid Declaration:
Increase your donation value to us by 25% at no further cost by signing a gift aid Tick: declaration. I declare that I am a UK taxpayer and I want Bluebell Wood to treat all donations I have made in the last four years and any future donations as gift aid donations, until I notify you otherwise. Registered charity number: 1076958 For more information on Gift Aid, visit www.bluebellwood.org Company number: 3809663 BEARN