Nursing care at home for local children with life-threatening or AUTUMN Newsletter terminal illnesses and 2016 support for their families Fantastic Family Fun Day old. Doctors at the hospital couldn’t her family over the years. The idea to believe that even though he was hold a Family Fun Day came to her in Harry came into the Walberton office to incredibly ill and on considerable doses January and she came to the office to see us so that we could ask him about of vital medication, he was still bouncing talk about her plans for the day. Becci the very happy and successful Family around in his cot. Now a delightful 7 was worried that she wouldn’t be able Fun Day that his mother, Becci Knight, year old, he attends his local school and to raise very much money, but was organised during the Summer on the rarely has time off. He plays football and reassured when we said that anything Parklands Playing Fields. He said it never seems to slow down, and like all she raised would be wonderful and that was ‘amazing, fantastic, super!’ and Snowdrop children he lives every day to raising awareness of the charity was he said that his mother was ‘great!’ On the full. also really important. the day there was something for everyone, stalls, games, a Many friends including Natalie and massive raffle, a fun- fair and so Haley helped her to visit shops and much more. businesses in search of raffle prizes. They were overwhelmed by the Becci has had years of worries kindness and generosity of so many and fears about her son’s health local people. as he developed a lung disease which has seen him rushed into The day was indeed fantastic and throughout the day Becci proved that Southampton and St Richard’s hospitals I asked him if he minded being in she could run an event that many where he was given lifesaving treatment hospital and he said he liked being on professional event organisers would on many occasions. Becci remembered the children’s ward at St Richards as find hard to undertake. Thank you Becci once when he was being taken by he looked forward to being with play and everyone who ambulance and struggling to breathe, therapists Kerry and Shelley! that all he wanted to do was watch the attended, helped traffic as they sped by! Becci and her family have been and supported her. supported by Snowdrop since Harry She gave us an To look at him jumping around you was first diagnosed and she desperately incredible £939 wouldn’t think he had ever been ill, or wanted to ‘give something back’ to from the day. that he still needs oxygen at night. That, thank Snowdrop, the Snowdrop nurses says Becci, has been his story since he and Counsellor, and everyone involved was diagnosed when he was 1 years with the charity who has helped her and In this Issue Checkatrade Jail Break Challenge - Pages 2-3 • An Evening with Frank Bruno - Page 5 Checkatrade Jail Break Challenge No money, no phone calls, just handcuffs, swag bags and an escape to support Snowdrop. The Checkatrade Foundation, the they didn’t know in advance! They then Claire Allen, Fundraising Manager for the charitable arm of Selsey based had to make their way to back to the Checkatrade Foundation said ‘We are Checkatrade, handed over a whopping hideout in Chichester without spending delighted to have supported the Sussex cheque for £6,966 to The Sussex any money or using mobiles to call any Snowdrop Trust as it is such a fantastic Snowdrop Trust following their friends for a lift. Only their wit and powers cause, based locally that provides care successful Charity Jailbreak Challenge, of persuasion could be used to blag at home for children with life threatening with terrific support from Spirit FM. some free transport. illnesses, providing nurses and financial help for their families. We even had a The event started at the Chichester Spirit FM covered the event live team of Snowdrop nurses who took Park Hotel, when teams arrived dressed throughout the day, following teams and part and were kindly given a lift back by to impress! There were fairies, jailbird finding out about their progress. Listeners Arundel police after earning their travel chicks, golfers, safari gear, traffic were encouraged to give teams some by washing cars! All the teams looked cones, sailors, neon ravers and more! help and the support from the public was brilliant wearing a variety of costumes, They were then handcuffed together amazing. Teams travelled back on buses, and we loved hearing all about their and boarded a coach to take them trains, a boat, quad bikes, motorbikes, adventures and travels throughout the to ‘prison’ courtesy of Richardson’s classic cars, police & fire vehicles to day. I’d like to say a huge thank you to Travel. Teams then made their escape name a few. Some walked more than anyone that supported us or donated, and were dropped off in Horsham, a others but they all did so well. we had a fantastic day and we’ll be back staggering 30 miles away, a location next year!’ Claire Allen from Checkatrade Foundation and India Ede from Spirit FM present Chairman and Co-Founder Di Levantine with the cheque from Checkatrade Well done to the Snowdrop Care at Home Team who collected the most money in their ‘buckets’ on the day. Close Shave for Snowdrop Inspired by her friend Ritu, who had her head shaved for charity a year ago, special needs teacher, Nuria Molina-Rivas decided to have her head shaved to raise money for Snowdrop! Nuria said that it was while working at St Richards R/C Primary school she first became aware of the wonderful work of The Snowdrop Trust. In front of parents and children, a local hairdresser not only cut Nuria’s beautiful hair but also her son and her two daughters. The girls had volunteered to have their long hair cut and sent to The Princes Trust so that their hair could be made into wigs for children who had lost their hair due to cancer treatment. To her delight and ours, Nuria and her family have already raised £2,291 02 Stay up-to-date with stories and fundraising /snowdroptrust @SnowdropTrust Checkatrade Jail Break Challenge No money, no phone calls, just handcuffs, swag bags and an escape to support Snowdrop. Kevin Byrne Founder and Managing The incredible gift of nearly £7,000 Director of Checkatrade talked to many by Checkatrade helped to pay for the of the Teams before waving-off the Annual Days Out when we invite many merry bus load of participants as they Snowdrop families to choose a day out headed out of Chichester to be taken to for all their family. These days provide a the unknown destination! much needed break away from the day to day problems facing Snowdrop children The Checkatrade Foundation was and their families and most importantly, supported by many companies and memories. 57 families enjoyed their day huge thanks must go to; Tesco Extra, and many have written to say that it had Horsham, Chichester Park Hotel, been a real treat to be able to go as a Richardson’s Travel and David their family, something that some would have driver, Cake Magic for their delicious found impossible to afford themselves. cake. Also, Fontwell Park, Sainsburys Chichester, Tesco Bognor Regis and Hotel Chocolat Chichester, for their prizes. One family having fun on their special day out Music from the movies enthrals Hugh Dennis compered an evening to remember when the Walton Voices and The Southdown Concert Band joined together to perform in ‘A Classical Night at The Movies’ in Chichester Cathedral. The audience were treated to a concert of such a high standard that they were talking about it for weeks. The forty musicians in the Band were conducted by their Musical Director Tom Hodge and the sixty singers from Walton on Thames were under the baton of their Musical Director Jonathan Kilhams.They had all been rehearsing for months to bring this spectacular concert to Chichester. Alison Woodward, a Snowdrop mother, gave a very moving talk about how Snowdrop had helped her and her family when her little son had been diagnosed with leukaemia. Sadly, Miles passed away 3 years ago and Alison bravely talked about his illness and how it had affected her entire family. She thanked Snowdrop and particularly the nurses for their wonderful care and support. Our Patron Hugh Dennis was ‘Outstanding’! Bringing his well know humour to the event, he introduced each piece of music in his own inimitable way. With his help it really was a huge success on every level. The collection at the end of the concert raised £797 and in total, with sponsorship, the concert made £3,618. Plans are already being made for another Concert next June and we hope you will join us. 03 Chairman's We even benefit from the The Snowdrop tooth fairy's visit! Report Annual Walk Darcy and Amalee sold some of their little bits and bobs and then Darcy had a The very special This year was definitely one of the best! visit from the TOOTH FAIRY! She added Snowdrop Children’s The weather was perfect, the helpers so this £2.00 to their collection and gave us Community Team helpful. The water for the teas heated up £25.00. Well done Darcy and Amalee, continue to provide when needed, and everything worked thank you so very much.