From Monday 15th to Sunday 21st June, during Children’s Hospice Week, an inspiring team took on an incredible four-peak challenge climbing the highest mountains in each nation of the UK: Slieve Donard (Northern Ireland), Ben Nevis (Scotland), Scafell Pike (England) and Snowdon (Wales).
Their efforts have raised over £3,500 for Together for Short Lives, with funds to be shared across the UK’s 52 children’s hospices.
Together for Short Lives is the UK’s leading children’s palliative care charity, campaigning for change, supporting families, and raising vital funds to ensure that children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and their families can make the most of every moment they share. This includes support for Helen & Douglas House, alongside hospices nationwide.
Meet the team
- Francesca – Founder of CHAT UK (Children’s Hospices Across the UK), children’s hospice nurse, and dedicated advocate. Francesca completed the challenge in memory of Henry, her “best little buddy,” who died from Acute Myeloid Leukaemia at the age of nine. Francesca is also a nurse at Helen & Douglas House and said:
“Every day at Helen & Douglas House I see children and families showing extraordinary strength in circumstances no family ever expects to face. I am passionate about being a voice for these children and families and raising awareness of the support children’s hospices provide, enabling families to make the most of every moment together.
Children’s hospices are a lifeline to families of seriously ill children and children with complex medical needs, supporting the whole family through every stage of their journey. Whether that’s specialist care, symptom management, play, laughter, support through uncertainty, or being there at the end of a child’s life and beyond.
Steps of Love was a journey of remembrance, connection and advocacy, created to shine a light on children’s hospice care, honour the lives of children gone too soon, and stand alongside families facing the most difficult of times. Every mountain we climbed was for the children who can’t climb them, for the families carrying more than most of us can imagine, and to show why children’s hospice care matters. From the never ending steps of Slieve Donard, to snow on Ben Nevis, to extreme winds on Scafell and sunshine on Snowdon, this challenge pushed us physically and mentally, but every time it felt hard, we reminded ourselves of what our children and families face every day, and that gave us the strength to keep going.
I am incredibly proud that the money raised will support Helen & Douglas House alongside children’s hospices across the UK. This year, the challenge felt more important than ever as children’s hospices continue to face increasing financial pressure alongside growing demand for their services. Raising awareness of the role hospices play, alongside vital funds, has never felt more important and we will never stop reaching for children and families to be able to access the vital support a children’s hospice provides.”
- Emilie – Children’s nurse with a passion for supporting children requiring long-term ventilation. Emilie climbed in memory of Milo and in support of Milo’s Mission.
- Zoe – Taking on the challenge for every child and family who relies on children’s hospice care. As a parent herself, Zoe dedicated each step to the incredible parents supported by hospices, celebrating their strength, love and resilience.
A challenge powered by purpose
CHAT UK was founded from first-hand experience of the impact serious illness and disability can have on children and their families, driven by a determination to be a voice for those navigating these challenges.
Throughout the journey, the team carried a flag bearing the names of children they have cared for, and those who have died, honouring them at the summit of each peak.
Celebrating an incredible achievement
A huge congratulations to this fantastic team. Their determination, compassion and strength have not only raised vital funds for children’s hospices across the UK but also shone a powerful light on the importance of children’s hospice care and the families it supports every day.
