Children's Hospices Across Scotland has a new plan to improve the lives of every child with a life-shortening condition
Scotland’s children’s hospice charity has a new name and a new look thanks to the creative youngsters supported by its service.
Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS), as it is now known, launched the CHAS alphabet of over 60 bright and beautiful letters to highlights its new plan to support every child with a life-shortening illness in Scotland.
The letters were each designed by a young person supported by CHAS and each has a unique story behind it.
There are 15,404 children in Scotland with life shortening conditions and almost 200 children die of their conditions every year.
CHAS currently cares for around a third of these children by offering palliative care, family respite and support at its two hospices, Rachel House and Robin House.
The charity used the CHAS alphabet to launch its new fundraising campaign, Keep the Joy Alive, which aims to double its income over five years to help achieve its ambition to work with every child with a life-shortening condition.
CHAS chief executive Maria McGill said: “Sadly too many families are facing the heartbreak of losing a child without the support that only CHAS can give.
“We want to make sure that wherever there’s a child in Scotland with a life-shortening condition, we’re on hand to support their entire family. Of course to do that we need to increase our income. Our beautiful new CHAS alphabet will play a key part in helping us achieve this goal.
“We’re rightly proud of our new alphabet – the children really were the best designers for the job and their creations perfectly capture who we are and the care we provide. Thanks to all the children for giving us a beautiful new look.”
One family the charity currently supports are the Boyds. Their eleven-year-old daughter Abbie was diagnosed with the genetic condition Metachromatic Leukodystrophy at two years old.
This is a rare degenerative condition which affects mobility, vision and the ability to talk and eat. Abbie communicates through facial expressions and noises.
Abbie’s mum, Lisa, said: “CHAS has been there for us at the most challenging times and continues to be a massive support to our whole family. For us, Robin House quite simply enables us to have a rest. When we tell Abbie we’re going to Robin House we get big smiles, our trips there are full of joy and fun. Abbie loves the hydrotherapy pool and the multi-sensory room with lights and sounds where she gives the care team the biggest smiles.”
