Children's hospice seeks 'pledge of support' during virus outbreak

Jacob in his chair at Bluebell Wood with brother and sister Leo and Mia and mum and dad Kerry and Jason.

Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, in North Anston, which stands to lose millions of pounds in fundraising income as the coronavirus crisis continues, has launched its #LetsPledge campaign, recognising that many will struggle to support local charities amid such uncertainty.

Rather than ask for donations, the charity is asking people to pledge an offer of support, when the time is right for them.

In return for these pledges, Bluebell Wood is pledging to offer whatever help it can in return, including supporting the NHS through the crisis and continuing to care for some of the most vulnerable children and adults in our communities.

Sam Wood, head of fundraising at Bluebell Wood, said: “I’m incredibly proud that we’re doing all we can to support local families who need our help more than ever.

“This comes at a significant cost, and our ability to fundraise for our lifeline work has been hit dramatically by the coronavirus pandemic.

“However, we recognise that so many of us are struggling right now and facing a very uncertain future. That’s why we want to make it clear that we don’t want our wonderful supporters to give what they cannot afford.

“Instead we’re asking our supporters simply for a pledge of support, something that can be undertaken when they feel comfortable enough to do so.”

One family who can’t wait to get back to their home away from home at Bluebell Wood is Jacob White’s.

Eight-year-old Jacob has gone through more in his short life than most of us do in a lifetime, including heart problems, chronic lung disease and suffering a massive bleed on his brain at birth.

His mum Kerry White said: “We’re now in our fourth week in total lockdown – we’ve really not been anywhere at all.

“We’re doing everything we can to keep him safe, and we’ll keep doing it for as long as it takes.

“I’ve been worried but we’re starting to feel a bit more comfortable about the situation now. We know it will come to an end at some point.”

Visit www.bluebellwood.org/letspledge.