Samuel Johnston Baby, one of the UK and Ireland’s longest established nursery goods business, is teaming up with CLIC Sargent in their fight to help stop cancer destroying young lives.
When children and young people are diagnosed with cancer, normal life stops. Treatment is intensive and emotionally gruelling; and can last several years. It often takes place far from home, isolating them from their normal environment. CLIC Sargent provides families with advice, financial assistance, and free accommodation close to hospitals.
Families must travel from across Northern Ireland to access specialist treatment at the Belfast City Hospital and The Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children. On average families have to make a 60-mile round trip each time they have a hospital appointment.
The Home from Homes provide free accommodation to the immediate family whilst their child receives treatment. CLIC Sargent currently has 10 homes throughout the UK, in Northern Ireland they have 2: Paul’s House and Amy’s House.
Samuel Johnston’s Marketing Manager, Donna McCullough, is delighted to be supporting the charity. Donna said: “One of the greatest casualties of the Covid-19 epidemic has been the charity sector. With fundraising events cancelled, revenues have dropped off a cliff. We want to do as much as we can to help raise money for CLIC Sargent and we are proud to be involved.”
Fiona McCann, CLIC Sargent’s Regional Partnerships Manager said: “A child’s cancer diagnosis is always traumatic, but the double crisis of Coronavirus and cancer is bringing terrible anxiety, isolation, and money problems to families.
“Our families are pushed to breaking point, spending a huge amount on essentials like travel, food, and parking just to get their child the lifesaving treatment they urgently need. Our social workers are there for families in their darkest hour. They help with everything from money worries to mental health. We have never been needed more. Samuel Johnston Baby supported CLIC Sargent in December 2020 by delivering toys and baby essentials to Paul’s House in Belfast for social workers to share among families on Christmas Eve. We are delighted to officially partner and raise much needed funds.”
Last year in the Newtownabbey area CLIC Sargent supported 30 children and young people, and their families, from diagnosis, throughout their treatment and beyond. Fourteen of those families stayed at Paul’s House – close to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children or Amy’s House, close to The City Hospital in Belfast and 5 families also stayed at the Bristol Home from Homes. The longest stay at Paul’s House was 104 days.
About CLIC Sargent
When cancer strikes young lives CLIC Sargent helps families limit the damage cancer causes beyond their health. CLIC Sargent is the UK’s leading charity for young cancer patients and their families. They provide specialist support, to help and guide each young cancer patient and their family. For more information, visit www.clicsargent.org.uk
