Brian House Children's Hospice gears up for 2018 after fantastic year

It has been an amazing 21st anniversary year for Bispham’s Brian House Children’s Hospice – but now it’s time to do it all over again.

That was the message from bosses at the hospice, who marked their milestone with a series of high-profile fundraising events in 2017.

They included the Bubble Rush in April, a fundraising ball at Blackpool Tower, a 10km fun run along the Promenade, and a golf day at Royal Lytham, and the ever-popular Santa Dash in South Shore.

The year was topped off with the ever-popular Santa Dash, which saw more than 1,700 people walk, jog, and run from the Sandcastle water park on the Promenade in South Shore to Central Pier and back.

Last month marked the official anniversary of the first children being welcomed through the doors back in 1996 but, despite a monumental fundraising effort over the past 12 months, the hospice’s challenge of finding the cash needed to keep it open starts afresh now in the New Year and beyond.

Based in Low Moor Road, Brian House is part of Trinity – and each year the adult hospice has to subsidise its costs, with around 80 children with serious, life-limiting illnesses being cared for at any one time.

It gets no funding from local health commissioners, and less than £200,000-a-year from the Department of Health, even though it costs more than £1 million a year to run.

Head of fundraising Linzi Young said: “We have had a wonderful year.

“The new events have worked really well and we have been genuinely moved by the way local people have rallied behind Brian House in its 21st birthday year.

“But the truth is that we can’t stop. In the coming months we will continue to raise awareness of the hospice.

“We launched a new brand identity for Brian House in September, and put new events into our very busy calendar.

“Many people are still surprised to find out that children’s hospice care sits outside the NHS.

“Unless you have a very poorly child, you probably don’t even think about how a children’s hospice is funded.

“But the figures speak for themselves; each year we get more referrals and some of the children who come to use for respite and end of life care are extremely complex cases.

“This year has been a real success in getting the Brian House name out across the Fylde Coast, and helping spread the word that we’re the only children’s hospice for Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. But from today we just start again; working hard to inspire people to get involved and support us for another 12 months.”

Little Elena Williams has attended Brian House for regular respite care for the past five years.

Now six, Elena has complex needs and the hospice plays an important part in the lives of her family, who live in Blackpool.

A few weeks ago, Elena was named Child of Courage at the Radio Wave Local Heroes awards after being nominated by the Brian House staff.

Throughout 2017, she is one of the children who have helped promote the hospice and its work through inspirational photographs and case studies.

Sister Carol Wylde, clinical manager at Brian House, said: “We were thrilled for Elena and her family.

“She is a lovely little girl who has a smile for everyone and we take real delight in seeing her progress; but she faces many difficulties.

“Brian House offers respite so that her family can have some ‘down time’ from the 24 hour care she needs.

“Elena is just one of around 80 local children currently supported by Brian House.

“We help the children and young people using our services to make the most of every day and help their families with the huge demands placed on them because of their child’s condition.

“We said at the start of this year that a 21st birthday for us would be a poignant one: we are all aware that many of our families will never celebrate a coming-of -age with their child. The sad fact is that some lives are much too short, but here at Brian House we fill the days with happiness, ensure that families are supported and create some fantastic memories, no matter what the future holds.”

Events:

BUBBLE RUSH

The inaugural event is set to return next year after 2,260 people — aged from five to their mid-80s — walked, jogged, and ran through coloured foam erupting from stations sited at regular intervals along a five kilometre course on Lawson’s Field, Blackpool, in April.

£72,000 was raised.

BEAVERBROOKS BLACKPOOL 10K

The annual 10km run, which sees the Prom closed as participants enjoy a run from the Savoy Hotel near Gynn Square to the Pleasure Beach and back on a nice, flat surface, is usually held for Trinity. This year, £55,000 was raised for Brian House.

It was again sponsored by resort jewellers Beaverbrooks, with around 50 staff members helping out on the day, and 125 others doing runs around the country to support the event.

More than 2,000 people took part.

GOLF DAY

The charity golf day allowed sportspeople to walk the fairways and follow in the footsteps of Open winners Seve Ballesteros, Ernie Els, and Bobby Jones at the prestigious Royal Lytham and St Annes Golf Club in July.

It was another first for the hospice, which handed out prizes for first, second, and third place, closest to the pin, and longest drive.

The hospice’s chief executive David Houston and chairman of trustees Nigel Law took part among 12 teams of four each from across the Fylde coast and the day was sponsored by Ken Townsley’s Kentown Wizard Foundation.

BALL AT TOWER

Held on September 30in the world-famous ballroom, the annual fundraiser - usually in aid of Trinity Hospice, was hosted by comedian, performer, and writer Jenny Eclair.

Jenny, whose father Trinity Hospice cared for some years ago, said she was ‘delighted to be at the special event, having seen first-hand the kindness and care’ given by staff.

Hospice patron and Fleetwood man, singer Alfie Boe sent a video message from Los Angeles, and a special ‘pop-up choir’ made up of hospice staff, trustees, corporate supporters and friends had the audience on their feet after a one night only performance of ‘Come What May’.

Food was provided by Thornton restaurant Twelve, while music was performed by Paul Guard and Ian Hooper, plus Jean Martyn on the Wurlitzer.

Fundraisers were helped by crew members from HMS Triumph, who travelled from their south coast submarine base for the day.

Around 400 people attended, and £66,000 was raised.

SANTA DASH

A record breaking 1,701 people dressed as the big man in red — as well as 50 dogs in fancy dress — made their way from the Sandcastle water park on the Promenade in South Shore to Central Pier and back, which it is hoped raised around £30,000.

It took place at the start of December, bringing a year of fundraising for Brian House to a close.

Trinity Hospice and Brian House spokeswoman Shirley Morgan said: “We had a brilliant turn-out and just want to thank everyone 
involved.”