Children’s hospices ‘a truly heart-warming example to us all,’ says  Duchess of Cambridge

Children’s hospices ‘a truly heart-warming example to us all,’ says  Duchess of Cambridge

The Duchess of Cambridge has said charities like East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) provide “a truly heart-warming example to us all” of creating “life long memories that are poignant, happy and often filled with laughter”.

The Duchess, EACH’s Royal Patron, has shared her thoughts in a letter of support for Children’s Hospice Week (17-23 June), the national awareness week organised by the UK’s umbrella charity for children’s palliative care Together for Short Lives.

The theme for Children’s Hospice Week this year is Moments that Matter. It is hoped showcasing the moments that matter for children and young people with life-threatening conditions, and their families, will challenge the misconception that children’s hospices are scary places. In a recent UK-wide survey conducted by YouGov, a fifth (20%) of respondents said they did not know what children’s hospices do or what children’s palliative care means.

The Duchess’s letter reads: “It (Moments that Matter) aims to make the most of the very precious time that those using hospice services have. Throughout the week we will hear amazing stories from families facing the toughest of futures. I hope that they will inspire each and every one of us to similarly make the most of the time we have with our own families, by ensuring every moment matters and that we create memories that last forever.”

EACH is sharing the stories of five parents who receive its support at a photography exhibition in Ipswich, where the photos on display have been taken by the parents as a means of exploring what EACH and the word ‘hospice’ mean to them, and how that may have changed over time.

The Duchess became EACH’s Royal Patron in 2012 and her letter is the latest in a series of messages she has released since.

Graham Butland, EACH Chief Executive, said: “We know and the families we’ve supported know just how much of a positive difference children’s hospices can make, providing truly memorable moments of fun and inspiration, but there’s still a clear gap in the knowledge of many others. We often hear from families how they expected our hospices to be sad and dark places. That’s simply not the case, as Her Royal Highness knows from her visits to us, and it’s fantastic to have her continued support in raising awareness. Children’s Hospice Week is always a really important time of year for us and all children’s hospices across the UK, and I hope people will once again join the Duchess in championing the role they have to play. We’re very excited to be hosting the H-Word and hope it’ll go some way to addressing misconceptions in our region.”

For more information about Children’s Hospice Week and to view the Duchess’s letter in full visit www.each.org.uk/childrenshospiceweek.

For more information about the H-Word exhibition head to www.each.org.uk/thehword.

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