Sunshine at Christmas
How you can help families this year:
CHRISTMAS be different for all of us after a very difficult and strange year.
But it has been even harder for many families in the North East where a child is living with disabilities.
Many have had to shield due to vulnerabilities and their usual routines have been turned upside down.
There are thousands of children living in our region who have gone without basic needs throughout 2020 due to their physio, therapies, schools and respite care being cancelled.
These children also haven’t been able to access specialist hydrotherapy pools, wheelchairs and walking frames that are all so important for their development, independence and pain relief.
It’s also been an undeniably hard year for those whose job it is to help these families.
Local charity the Sunshine Fund dedicates time to fundraising to buy specialist equipment for disabled children in the area when they can’t get it on the NHS.
They rely completely on donations to provide these pieces of equipment such as specialist beds or baths that cost thousands of pounds.
Many families would simply be unable to afford them and this is what makes the Sunshine Fund so important.
But since the outbreak of the pandemic, they have found themselves at a complete loss with events cancelled and a lack of donations due to everyone understandably tightening their belts.
This festive period, they are hoping to try to help some of the families that have suffered and need your
help to do it. Usually, their
Christmas Appeal is one of the biggest of the year with lots of events.
Lots will have to change this year but there are still many things you can do to help.
The big one is signing up to take part in their Christmas Jumper day. Whether you’re at work, home or school, join them on Friday, December 11, in your festive best and raise as much as you can.
You can also buy a special personalised letter from Santa for your little one for £5 and all proceeds go to the fund.
Siobhan Sargeant, Director of the Sunshine Fund, said: “The year 2020 has been an extremely difficult year for many charities and we are no exception. Many of our events have been postponed and our campaigns significantly affected by
Covid-19. This has had a huge impact on our fundraising.
“Whilst income has decreased, we’ve seen a huge increase in the number of applications made to us by desperate parents and carers.
“Our November equipment round exceeded £50,000, a record breaking amount for us to receive in one quarter.
“This increase proves how vital our services are and that families in the North East are struggling.
“We aim to fund specialist baths, beds, car seats, trikes, IT
equipment and even a home lift. “We are determined to support these children but we desperately need your help.
“This year our Christmas appeal looks a little different. We usually have a hectic events calendar including family friendly grottos, accessible Santa buses and an army of carol singers collecting for us. “While none of these are possible in 2020, we won’t let that stop us from helping our families. Your donation can have a real impact this year. Order a magical personalised letter from Santa sent directly to your little ones in the post for just £5, get the family together and take part in our annual Christmas Jumper Day on Friday 11th December and donate £2 or simply make a donation via text, post or our website.
“Help us help them this Christmas and please consider supporting us in any way you can. Visit our website for more information www. thesunshinefund.org/christmas.”
You can also make a donation via text: Text Sunshine 2, 5 or 10 to 70085 to make a one-off donation of £2, £5 or £10.
Donations can also be make via cheque and posted to: The Chronicle Sunshine Fund, 2nd floor, Eldon Court, ncjMedia Ltd, Percy St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7JB
We are determined to support these children but we desperately need your help Siobhan Sargeant, Director of the Sunshine Fund