‘Please donate so we can help fight pandemic’
CHILDREN’S HOSPICE FEARS CLOSURE UNLESS IT CAN RAISE VITAL FUNDS
THE Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice has launched an appeal to raise urgent funds so it can be ready to support the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic.
With its nursing expertise and specialised facilities, Brackenhallbased Forget Me Not is preparing to support the NHS during the outbreak.
However, the coronavirus and the government’s guidance about social distancing has had a devastating impact on Forget Me Not’s ability to raise funds. The charity has had to cancel all its events, donations are down and its big fundraiser, the Around the World challenge, is off the cards with schools closed.
All of its charity shops are now closed too. This has resulted in a loss of some £7,000 a day in vital income.
Without public support to help it recoup these losses, the charity won’t be able to keep the hospice open and available in the coming weeks and months, ready to provide essential support to the NHS when the demand on UK healthcare services becomes overwhelming.
All while it continues to provide critical care to children with lifeshortening conditions, for whom this virus presents a very real threat.
Chief executive Luen Thompson said: “At this time of national crisis, we’re all being called upon to step up. At Forget Me Not, we’re ready to do our bit.
“We have the expertise, the beds and the facilities to provide the NHS with vital additional capacity, which could save countless lives.
“But we need help to fund the gap in our income. Because this is all about timing. We know there is government crisis funding on the horizon but it won’t get to us quickly enough to make up our shortfall. We need your help to bridge that gap.”
To contribute to the charity’s appeal, people are being asked to make either a one-off donation or set up a regular monthly donation which could help sustain the hospice during this extremely challenging period.
For more information and to make a donation go to www.forgetmenotchild.co.uk/urgent-appeal