The Duchess of Cambridge shared
an important message to mark the start of Children’s Hospice Week.
Speaking of their incredible
work, Kate praised children’s hospices for bringing “joy, fun and play”
to seriously ill children. As well as providing vital expert care, the UK’s 54
children’s hospices help families “make the most of their lives together,
no matter how short,” she added.
The Duchess, who has been a
royal patron of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) for ten years,
thanked the hospices for their “incredible work” and for guiding
people through the “toughest of times”.
Children’s Hospice Week runs
from 20 to 26 June and is organized by Together for Short Lives, the UK charity
for seriously ill children and families, and is the only week dedicated to
raising funds and awareness for the services across the country.
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Kate visiting The Nook in 2020 – one of the three East Anglia Children’s Hospices
Speaking from the heart, Kate
said: “For any parent, coming to terms with the news your child has a
life-threatening condition and may die young is heart-breaking and incredibly
frightening.
“Families can often feel
isolated, but having the support of a children’s hospice means they don’t have
to face that future alone.
“Every day, the UK’s 54
children’s hospices are a vital lifeline for families caring for a seriously
ill child, and over the last ten years I have been privileged to see
first-hand the incredible work they do.”
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This week also marks Prince William’s 40th birthday
Andy Fletcher, chief executive
of Together for Short Lives, said: “As the Duchess says, hearing the news
that your child will die young is heart-breaking, and families often tell us they
feel isolated and alone, and just don’t know where to turn to for support.
“That’s why children’s
hospices are so vital. Everything they do is ‘For The Children’, helping
families make the most of every moment, whether that’s for years, months or
only days.”
This week also marks Prince
William’s milestone 40th birthday. To mark the occasion, William threw his
support behind The Big Issue by writing exclusively for the social enterprise’s
magazine. He also joined vendor Dave Martin, 60, to sell copies of the magazine
on the streets of west London.
