Julia’s House children’s hospice is encouraging residents to support its ‘Together We Care’ campaign, backed by the Salisbury Journal, to raise the funds it needs to continue its life-changing work.
The hospice’s work in Wiltshire provides a lifeline for families with disabled children and is 100 per cent publicly funded.
The new appeal aims to raise awareness and the £1.5million needed by Christmas 2022 to allow the hospice’s services to continue.
Morgan’s story
Seven-year-old Morgan McCartney from Salisbury has a life-limiting metabolic condition called Mucopolysaccharidosis, is non-verbal and uses a wheelchair.
He really looks forward to his weekly Julia’s House visits.
His mum Marina, 35 said: “His Julia’s House nurses know him so well, and they make sure he gets to play and enjoy things just like any other child.”
“As a family, we massively rely on their services. Not just for the respite, but to have people to talk to as well. As there really aren’t many other people who understand just how difficult it is to be in and out of hospital so much, and all the worries about their health and the future.”
Marina and her fiancé Andrew Phelps live in Bemerton, and have three other children Laila, 14, and Eli Phelps, nine, and Madison McCartney, seven.
Next year Julia’s House nurses will be at Marina and Andrew’s wedding to care for Morgan.
The mother-of-four said “They are like family, so we are also very happy to have them with us to enjoy the day.”
“Together we care”
Julia’s House cares for up to 200 families across Wiltshire and Dorset and has hospices in Devizes and Corfe Mullen with the option to receive care at home.
Julia’s House Nurse Jesseca Lowe, has worked for the charity for five years and is “happy to do it because these families are so appreciative, and the kids just amaze you every day.”
The 30-years-old from Swindon added: “When these families are really at breaking point, there’s not many people who can step in and take the load off for a while, but at least with us that’s what we can do.”
Julia’s House Director of Care Claire Hudson Cooper said: “We want to be there for every local seriously ill child and family that needs us. But we need everyone’s help in Wiltshire to do that.”
On Saturday September 25 residents are invited to Salisbury Market Place between 10am to 4pm to be photographed for a ‘We Care Bear’ selfie sculpture as part of the charity’s ‘Together We Care’ campaign launched earlier this month.
Julia’s House Fundraiser Claudia Hickin said: “Sharing a selfie for our 'We Care Bear' is a free and easy way to show your support for Julia’s House children’s hospice and the families we care for.”
Find out how to support local families and the Julia’s House Together We Care Appeal here.
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