Derian House Children’s Hospice in Chorley launching Sponsor a Nurse campaign

A Chorley hospice is launching a campaign to applaud special nurses who look after seriously ill children with life-limiting conditions.
The campaign, Sponsor a Nurse, is being run to say thank you to staff helping more than 400 children and young people from across the North West.The campaign, Sponsor a Nurse, is being run to say thank you to staff helping more than 400 children and young people from across the North West.
The campaign, Sponsor a Nurse, is being run to say thank you to staff helping more than 400 children and young people from across the North West.

Derian House Children’s Hospice is appealing to the public to "Sponsor a Nurse" to say thank you for their dedication to more than 400 children and young people from across the North West.

The campaign invites people to pledge, raise, or donate £150 and will mark International Nurses’ Day on Tuesday.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Michelle Blackett, a specialist children’s nurse who works at Derian House, said: “Although there have been many touching moments over the years, what I can never really get over is the strength of human spirit that comes through in the darkest times in families’ lives – especially from the children.

Derian House Children's Hospice in Chorley is launching a campaign to applaud special nurses who look after seriously ill children with life-limiting conditions.Derian House Children's Hospice in Chorley is launching a campaign to applaud special nurses who look after seriously ill children with life-limiting conditions.
Derian House Children's Hospice in Chorley is launching a campaign to applaud special nurses who look after seriously ill children with life-limiting conditions.

“Our ultimate aim at Derian House is to give families special memories. We cannot change what is happening, but we can hold their hand and guide them through.”

And with 2020 being the NHS Year of the Nurse and Midwife, as well as marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of the world’s most famous nurse, Florence Nightingale – there is even more reason to recognise the extraordinary work done by Derian’s extraordinary workers every single day of the year.

The campaign aims to raise £25,000 for the charity. But if every single day of the year was to be sponsored, the figure would come in at an impressive £54,750.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

People are being invited to pick a special date they would like to sponsor a nurse on – whether in memory of a loved-one, on their birthday, anniversary or any other important date.

Thecampaign invites people to pledge, raise, or donate 150 and will mark International Nurses Dayon Tuesday.Thecampaign invites people to pledge, raise, or donate 150 and will mark International Nurses Dayon Tuesday.
Thecampaign invites people to pledge, raise, or donate 150 and will mark International Nurses Dayon Tuesday.

One mother said: “Never did I ever think I would feel comfortable leaving our little boy in somebody else's care other than mine or his dad’s. However, yesterday that day came and our son spent the evening and this morning at Derian House and my gosh what an amazing time he has had. He is so content and chilled out and it feels like we too have had a respite and recharge.

£The stuff that goes on behind those doors is impeccably heart-warming. What an amazing place full of amazing people! We are very grateful to be a part of the Derian family.”

Kevin Bedford, head of income generation at Derian House Children’s Hospice, said: “It takes a special person to be a Derian nurse. It’s not just the children we care for, we also put our arms around the whole family – including siblings, parents and grandparents too.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The breadth of skills our nurses use in an average day at Derian is awe-inspiring. They might be caring for a child at the end of his or her life, and then have to turn their attention to joining in a sing-a-long or an arts and crafts session.

“Our nurses give families the chance to just be families, not nurses or carers. We give them a chance to make the very most of the time they have together. That’s why our Sponsor a Nurse for a Day campaign isn’t just about raising vital funds, it’s also about recognising the wonderful work our nurses at Derian do, every single day of the year.”

Visit www.derianhouse.co.uk/sponsoranurse to find out more.

Related topics: