Latest News
There’s always something going on in the world of WellChild. Here’s where we tell you about the latest developments – hot off the press. Whether it’s fundraising triumphs, scoops on our work with children and young people or news on any of our many events, this is where to find the latest information.
New hoodies for WellChild staff (February 2012)
Two new WellChild staff members help sick children (February 2012)
WellChild welcomes the new Children and Young People's Forum (January 2012)
Give the gift of life in your will (January 2012)
Emily Maitlis announces new Medicines for Children website (December 2011)
Medicines for Children website is launched (December 2011)
sofa.com donates to WellChild (December 2011)
Jim's big leap to help sick kids (November 2011)
WellChild funded research leads to world first liver treatment (November 2011)
Dancestars take to the floor for WellChild (November 2011)
Gym rowing marathon for WellChild (November 2011)
TV star Janet's appeal for WellChild (November 2011)
Team Q complete their long ride (October 2011)
Royal challenge for Danone runners (October 2011)
Team Q saddle up for long distance ride (September 2011)
Elin's Fastnet adventure for WellChild (September 2011)
Walk the Line Festival will help sick children (September 2011)
New research fellowship into CMV gets underway (September 2011)
Strictly star Ian's new calendar supports WellChild (September 2011)
Soap Stars' soccer a big success (August 2011)
Rugby star James Simpson Daniel invites you to a Golf Day (July 2011)
A huge thanks to all who took part in the SACA bike ride for WellChild (July 2011)
Be part of the Medicines for Children project (July 2011)
New WellChild Nursing Advisory Panel members (July 2011)
New hoodies for WellChild staff
WellChild staff and volunteers will be keeping themselves warm with new WellChild hoodies when they go out on the road this year thanks to a kind donation from a supporter.
The tops have been donated to the charity by Mark Ponsford, MD Of Krowmark Workwear, who has been a strong supporter of WellChild.
Mr Ponsford has raised money for sick children and their families by taking part in the London Triathlon 2010 and 2011 and in the London Marathon 2011 as part of the WellChild team.
His firm has kindly donated WellChild team hoodies for staff to wear at events such as the Triathlon and the London marathon as well as on Helping Hands projects 
right across the UK.
Karl Gwilliam of WellChild said: “We are delighted with the new hoodies and would like to thank Mr Ponsford for his thoughtful gesture.
"He can be sure they will be put to good use as we carry out or work for sick kids in the UK.”
Two new WellChild staff members help sick children
National children’s charity, WellChild, has appointed the first ever Family Co-ordinator to work with children and young people affected by a rare genetic condition, Wolfram syndrome.
In partnership with Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Rachel Bates from Gloucester will work closely with families across the UK, providing invaluable information, support and advice to help children affected by this rare degenerative condition which, among many other symptoms, can cause blindness, diabetes and loss of hearing and often shortens life-expectancy.
Newly appointed WellChild Wolfram syndrome Family Co-ordinator, Rachel, is looking forward to making a difference to these families’ lives by helping communicate their needs, providing a listening ear, advice and information and linking them up with other families and local services.”
Previously a technician in Paediatric Occupational Therapy in Stroud, Rachel said: “Living with Wolfram syndrome in your family brings enormous challenges. On top of coping with the devastating symptoms, families often find that health and other professionals just don’t understand what they need because Wolfram is such a rare and complex condition. I hope that this new role will lighten their load and help them feel less isolated.”
Rachel will be based in WellChild’s Cheltenham offices with the rest of the team as well as spending time in Birmingham Children’s Hospital as part of the multi-disciplinary team at the ground-breaking new ‘one-stop’ Wolfram syndrome outpatient clinic. This innovative approach to managing highly complex conditions enables children to be seen on one day by the wide range of different consultants required, rather than having to travel to different hospitals for multiple consultations.
Tim Barrett, Professor of Paediatrics at University of Birmingham and Honorary NHS consultant in paediatric endocrinology and diabetes heads up the Wolfram Clinic at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. He said: “With this new post we are able to make an even greater difference to families’ lives as Rachel will now be available to meet families when they attend the clinic as well as keeping in regular contact in between times.”
Head of Programmes at WellChild, Linda Partridge commented: “WellChild is committed to providing wide-ranging support for seriously ill children and their families. This exciting new post enables us to continue to meet this commitment and to build on our longstanding contribution to the valuable and ongoing research work of Professor Barrett and his team at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.”
Another new appointment at WellChild this month is Hannah Bemand who has taken up the post of Programme Manager responsible for Involvement and Participation. Hannah’s role involve creating networks of parents, carers, children and young people to ensure that the needs of sick children and their families are represented with external consultations and campaigns.
Hannah from Bristol worked previously on a project that aimed to promote healthy lifestyles amongst children and their families from across Swansea. She is really excited about her new role with WellChild as she is passionate about the value of the experience and knowledge of parents, and involving parents in a meaningful way.
WellChild welcomes the new Children and Young People's Forum
WellChild, the national charity for sick children, has welcomed the new Children and Young People’s Forum which has been announced by the Government today (January 26th).
The Forum will develop a strategy to improve health outcomes for children and young people – creating an outcomes framework specifically for child health. It will focus on identifying important health issues and looking forward how the NHS can meet the needs of all children and young people, including those receiving hospital and community services and children with long term and complex health conditions. Its recommendations will shape the future priorities for child health and the delivery of health services within the NHS.
The Forum will be made up of independent experts invited by the Secretary of State drawn from across the children’s sector including health, local government and the charities.
WellChild Director of Programmes Linda Partridge said: “This is a wonderful opportunity to improve health services for all children and young people particularly those with serious and complex health conditions. We are acutely aware that provision of services for this vulnerable group of children is patchy and we welcome the Government’s commitment to addressing this issue.”
Give the gift of life in your will
Recently, Britain’s three major political party leaders David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband have backed the Legacy10 campaign by pledging to leave a tenth of their estate to charity. They join high profile figures such as Sir Richard Branson, and many others, who have pledged to do the same.
Why not join them and give the gift of life to a seriously ill child?
WellChild relies on voluntary donations to fund its work and that is why we are so thankful to our supporters who choose to leave a gift to WellChild in their will. Read more about legacies for WellChild here.
After you have provided for your own family and friends, perhaps you might consider remembering WellChild in your will? It doesn’t have to be 10 per cent of your estate, a gift of any size will make such a difference to a small charity like WellChild.
By leaving a gift in your will to WellChild you will be helping to save precious young lives and help future generations to have long and happy lives.
To find out more about how a gift in your will would make a life changing difference for future generations, please call Sarah Howley at WellChild on 0845 458 8171 or email legacies@wellchild.org.uk for more information.
Read more about the pledge made by the party leaders here.
Your legacy can be the gift of life. Please remember WellChild when you make or update your will.
Emily Maitlis announces new Medicines for Children website
Well known TV news journalist and WellChild Celebrity Ambassador Emily Maitlis has written to newspapers throughout the UK to tell them about the new Medicines for Children website which has been launched by WellChild and its partners the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Group.
Here is Emiliy's letter:
Dear Editor
I, like all your readers who are parents, have experienced the fear that comes when your child is ill, particularly when you have to give them medicine, often without enough information about what to do and how it will affect your child. With winter upon us the threat of illness seems even more daunting.
Most of us are fortunate that our children’s sickness is not serious and passes quickly. For other families this is not the case, which is why for some time I have supported the work of the national charity for sick children, WellChild. WellChild is committed to helping children and their families throughout the UK as they deal with the consequences of serious illness and complex conditions.
Today I want to tell all parents about a new website and expanding information service called Medicines for Children that has just been launched by WellChild and its partners, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Group.
Medicines for Children provides online or printed leaflets giving free, practical and reliable information on over 100 key medicines and answering the questions which commonly concern parents, such as how and when to give medicine to their children, what is the right dose and what the possible side effects might be.
Any parent whose child requires medication can benefit from visiting www.medicinesforchildren.org.uk from those just needing a one-off treatment to others whose child requires long-term and complicated treatment. The aim is that parents feel confident about giving their children medicines, having been reassured by easily accessible, practical and informative advice written specifically for them.
At www.medicinesforchildren.org.uk parents and carers can search online by the name of a medicine, brand name of a drug or the disease, condition or infection being treated. There are easy-to-read sections on subjects such as how to give medicines and what to do in case a dose is forgotten or given twice as well as a news section and a range of videos showing how to give medication.
The information is written and reviewed by children’s doctors, pharmacists and parents and carers with real experience of the concerns and issues parents face when giving a child medicine at home. WellChild is looking for more parents to give their views on what to cover as this resource continues to expand so let them know if you could help too.
Parents have already told us how helpful this information is as it can often be stressful enough for them when their child is ill, without the added anxiety of ploughing through complicated information and worrying about the risks of not giving a medicine correctly.
Please look it up now at www.medicinesforchildren.org.uk to see how it could help you if your child becomes ill.
With best wishes
Emily Maitlis
WellChild Ambassador
Medicines for Children website is launched
A new website and expanding information service for parents called Medicines for Children is launched today to help any parent who has ever been anxious when faced with giving medicine to their child at home. Medicines for Children currently provides online or printed leaflets giving free, practical and reliable information on over 100 key medicines and answering the questions which commonly concern parents, such as how and when to give medicine to their children, what is the right dose and what the possible side effects might be.
The information is written and reviewed by children’s doctors, pharmacists and parents and carers with real experience of the concerns and issues parents face when giving a child medicine at home. Information on more medicines is in production and suggestions from parents and professionals on topics not yet covered are welcome.
Although every medicine comes with a patient information leaflet written by the company which makes the drug, they commonly fail to address the specific concerns parents have about the medicine and their child. These leaflets often only cover giving the medicine to an adult and may include complicated information.
Medicines for Children was developed by a partnership of experts from the national children’s charity, WellChild, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), and the Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Group (NPPG) who came together to address evidence about how worried parents can become over the dangerous consequences of making a mistake when giving a child medication at home.
Dr William van’t Hoff, Consultant Paediatrician at Great Ormond Street Hospital, who is on the panel driving this initiative, commented: “The Medicines for Children website and leaflets aim to support any parent whose child requires medication, from a one-off treatment to others whose child requires long-term and complicated treatment, often with several different medications being given every day. We want to help parents feel confident about giving their children medicines, having been reassured by easily accessible, practical and informative advice written specifically for them. The leaflets are certified by The Information Standard which was developed by the Department of Health and are referenced in the British National Formulary for Children. 1.”
At medicinesforchildren.org.uk parents and carers can search online by the name of the medicine, brand name of a drug or the disease, condition or infection being treated. Leaflets are available in print or can be read and downloaded online Areas parents found most helpful include how to give medicines and what to do in case a dose is forgotten or given twice. This easy-to-read information is supported with a news section containing topical information and a range of videos showing how to give medication.
Linda Partridge, Director of Programmes at WellChild heads up the panel of parents and carers who advise the team and is seeking others to join. She added: “Parents and carers are at the heart of Medicines for Children. We need parents and carers to join our panel at WellChild to help make sure our information is helpful and easy to understand. You don’t need any experience and we welcome people from all backgrounds. Even though it won't take up much of your time, your help will be very important.”
One of these parents, Debbie Linster-Ali from Rugby, is mother of Noah who tragically died aged three in 2009. Noah had a rare chromosomal condition called Edward’s Syndrome as well as a major heart condition. Although Noah required complex medical care throughout his life, his family were determined to give him the best quality of life possible by having him at home where he flourished with his toys, his siblings and his family. Commenting on the information available on Medicines for Children, Debbie said: “The leaflets are absolutely great. It can be stressful enough for parents when their child is ill, without the added anxiety of ploughing through complicated information and worrying about the risks of not giving a medicine correctly. For us the information about unlicensed drugs would have been really helpful as Noah had to have medicine which was at the time unlicensed.”
Another key member of the team, Stephen Tomlin, Consultant Pharmacist and Professional Secretary of the NPPG, said: “Medicines for Children will continue to grow and adapt to the needs of parents. At present our team are working to provide evidence-based and accurate information for further medicines. On our website parents can read all about the rigorous processes we have developed to ensure that each leaflet is accurate, up-to-date and addresses the right concerns.
"We hope that the leaflets stand alone as a quality information source, but also act as a catalyst for enhanced professional and carer engagement on the important topic of medicines use in children”
sofa.com donates to WellChild
Furniture company Sofa.com is doing its bit to help sick children by donating £5 to WellChild for every completed customer feedback card it receives.
The promotion is currently running and the firm plans to continue helping WellChild in this way for at least three more months – raising funds to help us support seriously ill children and their families in the UK.
The firm which is based at Chelsea Wharf in London, aims to offer the best value, high-quality, beautiful and comfy sofas (and beds) in the UK, combined with the best customer service in the industry. Find more about them on their website here.
Jim's big leap to help sick kids
WellChild supporter Jim Morris has jumped from a plane at the age of 63, to raise money to help sick children in honour of his grand-daughter who has a serious medical condition.
Jim has never done anything like his skydive from 10,000 feet before but felt he had to make a grand fundraising gesture on behalf of seven year out grand-daughter Lara Kitty Morris who has a genetic liver defect.
Lara’s condition has resulted in a large number of stones regularly accumulating in her kidneys and consequently damaging them. She has to have a liver transplant within one year and eventually will also need a kidney transplant.
Jim decided to carry out his fundraising challenge to raise money for WellChild and for the Evelina Children’s Hospital in London because he wanted to help other children, like Lara who are faced with life-changing medical conditions. So far he has raised an amazing £3,170 including gift aid.
Jim touchingly describes why he is raising money on behalf of Lara on his Virgin Money Giving page here.
See a video of Jim’s amazing parachute jump here.
WellChild funded research leads to world first liver treatment
Pioneering research funded by WellChild into liver disease has led to a life saving new treatment which could be used to help many sick children. WellChild has been a long-term funder of the work of Professor Anil Dharwan and his team at King’s College London and our support has paid off with this brilliant new break-through. Read more about our research project at the Liver Cell Therapy Unit at Kings here.
The parents of seven month old Iyaad Syed hope their son can live a normal life thanks to a new, life saving liver treatment carried out at King’s College Hospital, part of King’s Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre.
The new treatment – which involved injecting donor liver cells (encased in small beads made of a biocompatible material) into Iyaad’s abdomen after his own liver had started to fail due to a virus – meant he did not need to undergo a liver transplant.
This is the first time in the world that donor liver cells have been used in this way. Iyaad is now recovering well and his own liver is functioning normally. Iyaad was born fit and healthy in February this year, but less than two weeks later his parents Jahangeer and Meher noticed that his eyes were becoming yellow, and that he was making strange, grunting noises.
He was admitted to his local hospital, where tests showed that his liver was enlarged and failing. Iyaad was immediately transferred to King’s for further treatment, where doctors diagnosed the herpes-simplex virus. The virus is harmless in adults, but can be life-threatening in young children.
Doctors at King’s discussed the treatment options with Iyaad’s parents and, because of the seriousness of his condition, it was felt trialling a new approach using donor liver cells inserted into his abdomen would be the best treatment option for him. The virus was infecting his liver, and his kidneys had also started to fail, meaning he was put on dialysis. He was also in danger of the virus affecting the lungs, heart and brain.
Specialists at King’s – led by Professor Anil Dhawan, Consultant Paediatric Hepatologist – injected cells from a donor into Iyaad’s abdomen when he was just two weeks old. The cells – which were encased in small beads to prevent them being attacked by Iyaad’s immune system – then started to carry out the work his liver was unable to. The beads are made of a biocompatible material and measure only 0.5mm in size. Just a few days after the treatment was administered, Iyaad’s liver function improved to such an extent that his body was able to overcome the virus, and he was able to return home.
Six months on, his father Jahangeer said the change in his son was a ‘miracle’:
“He is now sitting up and smiling, and behaving like any normal six month old. It was a very difficult time when he first arrived – he was unconscious for a number of days whilst the doctors kept him under observation. We spent all our time at the hospital, and we thought he would need a transplant – fortunately, his liver has recovered and we feel very lucky to be in the position we are in today. It’s a miracle’.”
Professor Dhawan said the procedure could mark an important development in treatment options for young patients with complex liver problems:
“This could be an exciting and innovative treatment, and is a perfect example of what our academic health sciences centre is trying to achieve by bringing research and clinical treatments closer together. We are keeping Iyaad under close supervision, but he is progressing very well and we hope he will experience no further problems. Longer-term, we want to see whether this technique works in other patients, so we can properly assess how big an impact it can potentially have."
Professor Nigel Heaton, Director of Transplant Surgery at King's, added: "It is a reality that many patients with complex liver disease will go on to require transplants – this is an established treatment that we do every week at King’s. However, this technique could mean we are able – potentially – to explore other treatment options for patients whose livers start to fail, and for whom a transplant is not always an option, or an organ isn't readily available.”
Dr Ragai Mitry, Head of Liver Processing at King’s, who helped in developing the technique, said: “We are very pleased that the technique we have developed at King’s was successful, and the transplanted liver cells have helped in supporting and delivering the missing metabolic functions of Iyaad’s failing liver.”
The technology used at King’s used to develop the microbeads was funded by WellChild, the Department of Health and the National Institute for Health Research.
King’s is a major centre for the treatment of liver disease. King’s also carries out over 200 liver transplants every year.
Dancestars take to the floor for WellChild
Gloucestershire dance school Dancestars will be putting on a show at its annual Christmas party later this month to raise money for county based children’s charity WellChild.
Dancestars is based in Gloucester and teaches ballroom and Latin dance to pupils of all ages, from young children to adults. Its Christmas party takes place on Friday November 25 from 7pm at the St Peter’s Social Club in Black Dog Way, Gloucester.
At the event pupils from the school will put on a display to show what they have been learning throughout the year and there will be a raffle and fundraising for WellChild, the national charity for sick children, which is based in Cheltenham.
Dancestars principal Sarah Hall said the event is always lots of fun and urged everyone to come along.
She said: “This is the third year we have been able to help WellChild through our Christmas party and it is great to know that as well as having a good time and doing plenty of dancing we will be helping seriously ill children and their families.”
WellChild Communications Officer Chris Hill said: “We are really grateful to have the support of Dancestars, their Christmas party is very much a family affair and it’s fantastic that as well as dancing and having fun they are supporting WellChild’s nurses, researchers and Helping Hands projects which benefit children and families up and down the country.”
Tickets are available from Sarah Hall on 01452 423234 or on the door at £4.50 for adults, £3 for children and £12 for a family ticket for two adults and two children.
Gym rowing marathon for WellChild
A team of friends from a gym have taken part in a 100km sponsored rowing marathon for WellChild and raised more than £1,500 in the process.
David Gibbons and his friends used the office gym at their workplace at Chevron Products at Canary Wharf to take part in their challenge.
David explained why the friends decided to raise money for WellChild’s work for seriously ill children and their families in the UK.
“We chose Wellchild as a few of us have become Dads recently, and it’s obviously a great cause to raise money for,” he said.
David explained how the group of friends hit on their unusual fundraising idea.
“As regular users of our office gym, and being quite a competitive bunch, we started challenging each other to races on the rowing machines,” he said,
“This culminated in a few of us trying to row 10,000m. After realising how hard this is to complete it in a decent time, we thought 10 of us attempting 100,000m in a relay throughout the day could be a worthwhile fundraiser.
“Although most of us hadn’t used a rowing machine before, we gave ourselves a target time of 7h20m to complete it, and in the end did it in 7h 6m 30s.9. Some have said they’ll never sit on a rowing machine again!"
Currently the total raised stands at £1,562, read more about the event and donate at the group’s justgiving page here.
TV star Janet's appeal for WellChild
Famous TV presenter and former Blue Peter star Janet Ellis is appealing to the British public to help raise funds for WellChild by buying our Christmas cards this year.
Janet, who is a supporter of WellChild and attended this year’s WellChild Awards, has written a letter to newspapers across the UK asking their readers to send WellChild cards to their friends and family this year. Her letter reads:
Dear Lovely Person,
With the festive season just around the corner, it’s time to think about Christmas cards! As a Blue Peter veteran, you might expect me to urge you to make your own, but instead this year I would like to ask that you consider buying them to support WellChild, the national charity for sick children.
WellChild does a fantastic job helping seriously ill children and their families all across the UK through care, support and research. They have a growing team of WellChild Children’s Nurses based up and down the country who work to get long term sick children out of hospital to be cared for at home with the right support. WellChild also does other great work like Helping Hands schemes where volunteers carry out projects to improve the homes of sick children and research into children’s health to find new ways to help seriously ill children in the future.
One simple way you can support to this fantastic charity is by buying WellChild Christmas cards which are available online here or by ringing 0845 458 8171.
That way when you send a greeting this Christmas you can be sure you are helping some of the most deserving and needy young people in the country. Kids whose dearest wish is that they were home for Christmas with their family rather than living on a hospital ward.
Any help you can offer will be gratefully received and will help to give these children the Christmas, and indeed the life, that we would want for our own kids. And may I wish you a very Happy Holiday.
Janet Ellis
c/o WellChild
Team Q team complete their long ride
Thank you to the cyclists from Team Q Maintenance who have recently completed a gruelling 300 mile cycle ride from their offices in Stoke-on-Trent to Turner Headquarters in Glasgow in aid of WellChild.
The team members were Steve Faulkner, Sid Newbon, Robert Lynch, Andrew Gallacher and Derek Maggs. Between them they managed to raise a current total of more than £1,700 to support our work with seriously ill children. You can read a report by the cyclists on their marathon road trip here.
There is still time to support the lads at their Just Giving page here.
Royal challenge for Danone runners
Thanks to HR Director Charline Berry and Financial Controller Veronique Schloesslen of Danone UK for a great run in support of WellChild.
Danone is one of WellChild’s charity partners and the two staff members took part in the recent Royal Park half Marathon on our behalf raising £600 to support out work.
WellChild has a whole host of challenge events on offer for supporters who want to test themselves and raise funds for a great cause!
If you fancy taking on a running event, or other type of challenge event for WellChild see what we have to offer here.
Team Q saddle up for long distance ride
Keen cyclists from the firm Team Q will be raising money for WellChild on a marathon cycle from Stoke-on-Trent to Glasgow in October.
The cycling team is made up of Steve Faulkner, Sid Newbon, Robert Lynch and Andrew Gallacher supported by driver Derek Maggs. Members of the group work for Team Q building services maintenance company which is part of the Turner Group.
Their cycle ride will take them from the Turner EPS office in Stoke-on-Trent to Turner Headquarters in Glasgow. This 300 mile journey will be very tough as it takes in some demanding terrain in the Lake District. The trip starts on October 7 and finishes on October 10.
The team has set up a justgiving page so people can sponsor them on their long ride. To visit the page and find out more click here.
Elin's Fastnet adventure for WellChild
An adventurous WellChild supporter who was a crew member on one of the yachts in this year’s Fastnet sailing race has raised money for our work with sick children.
Elin Haf Davies took part in the 608 nautical mile race in which yachts leave Cowes on the Isle of Wight and race to the Fastnet Rock off the southwestern tip of Ireland before completing a dramatic dash to the finish at Plymouth.
Elin was the only woman joining forces with an experienced crew of ten men on her boat in the 2011 race which started on August 14. Unfortunately their Fastnet adventure came to an end just a few miles short of the rock when they were hit by steering failure which left them out of the race.
Elin said: “Unfortunately my Fastnet race was cut short after experiencing steering failure in 32-34k winds in rough Celtic seas, before relying on the emergency tiller to get us back in to port.
“Just like the rest of the crew, I am bitterly disappointed, however we were also very relieved not to be in the same position as our competitors on Ramblers 100 who had to be rescued by the RNLI.
“None the less it was an amazing experience, and I managed to survive in a boat with 10 men! All of whom looked after me very well. As a crew we were delighted to support WellChild.”
Elin chose to raise money for WellChild on the race to show her admiration for her friend Karen Higgins who was the winner of the 2010 WellChild Award for best nurse.
You can read more about Elin’s Fastnet adventure here.
Walk the Line Festival will help sick children
WellChild is delighted to have been chosen as the beneficiary charity of the Walk the Line music festival which will take place in Cheltenham on October 7 and 8, 2011.
The two day festival takes place at a number of different venues around the town and features a whole host of bands and musicians. Locations for the various gigs during the festival include the Frog and Fiddle, The Railway and the D-Fly.
So far, acts on the bill include Tellison, Beans on Toast, Crazy Arm, Ellen and The Escapades, Miss 600, Skint and Demoralised, Thrill Collins, Charlie Baxter, Swift Manouver, Dirty Tricks, Midwest Dilemma, I the Lion, and many more. This will be the third year the festival has taken place since it made its debut in Cheltenham in 2009.
Tickets for Walk the Line are on sale through the festival website. You cannot purchase tickets for individual shows, you can instead purchase weekend or day tickets, which allows entry to all Walk the Line events, as individual capacities permit.
Find out more about the Walk the Line Festival and purchase tickets at the website here.
New research fellowship into CMV gets underway
A new WellChild funded research fellowship has just been launched to investigate ways to prevent and treat the potentially devastating infection
Cytomegalovirus, or CMV, which affects three or four babies in every 1,000 born in the UK, and up to 10 in every 1,000 in developing countries. The condition can cause cerebral palsy, deafness, sight problems, learning difficulties and epilepsy.
The project is talking place at University College, London and is being led by Dr Claire Townsend who is a postdoctoral infectious disease epidemiologist at the Institute of Child Health, University College London. Claire specialises in maternal and early childhood infections, focusing on gaining a better understanding of these conditions, in order to improve health and wellbeing, and reduce childhood disability.
Claire’s research fellowship has two parts, which will run simultaneously. First, she will combine existing data from studies in the UK and Sweden, to estimate the risk of deafness and other disabilities as a result of congenital CMV in children with and without symptoms. Secondly, Claire will develop new ways of collecting information on CMV infection in pregnant women and babies, in preparation for a new study that will begin in 2012/13. This new study will allow samples to be taken from around 90,000 pregnant mothers and their newborn babies, to establish the prevalence of the virus among women in different socioeconomic groups.
The results of Claire’s research will help the medical profession to prevent, diagnose and treat congenital CMV, reducing the numbers of children and families affected by the disease and the long-term problems it causes.
A clearer understanding of the virus will enable the development of screening and vaccination programmes, enabling more effective prevention and treatment.
Funding this fellowship will not only help to reduce the number of children who develop congenital CMV, it will also have a dramatic effect on the career of a promising researcher.
Strictly star Ian's new calendar supports WellChild
Strictly Come Dancing star Ian Waite, one of WellChild’s Celebrity ambassadors, has generously decided to raise money for WellChild through the sales of his calendar for the second year running.
Dancer Ian will donate a pound from the sale of every copy of his 2012 calendar to WellChild.
Hot on the heels of 2011's 'Man For All Seasons' calendar, this is Ian Waite's 'Whitehot' calendar for 2012! This stunning 12 month calendar features fabulous colour portraits of Ian Waite shot on location in Majorca especially for this calendar, each image personally selected by Ian himself.
Each super-size A3 wall calendar will be signed by Ian on the welcome page to make this a must-have for any Ian Waite fan.
To get your copy of the calendar, and help raise money for WellChild, visit Ian’s website here.
Soap Stars' soccer a big success
TV Soap Stars and businessmen who played football to raise money for WellChild recently raised an impressive £4,000 for our work with seriously ill children.
The event took place at the Dovecote Stadium in Shepshed, Leicestershire, on July 24 when the star studded M1 Soaplife Celebrity team took on a team of businessmen who finished the day as match winners. The match and fun-day was organised by Recognition Express managing director and WellChild supporter Nigel Toplis.
Mr Toplis said before the match: “The aim is to raise as much money as possible for WellChild and the Soaplife team’s charity the Shannon Bradshaw Trust and that is exactly what we intend to do.”
Nigel thanked everyone who helped organise the event and who took part in it. The organisers were delighted with the way the event went and already there are plans to have a return match next year.
Rugby star James Simpson Daniel invites you to a Golf Day
Gloucester and England rugby player James Simpson Daniel is currently supporting WellChild as part of his testimonial year and the latest event which is talking place is a Golf Day at Gloucester Golf Club.
You are invited to join James Simpson Daniel and members of the Gloucester rugby squad in a golf day at Gloucester Golf Course on Wednesday 24 August 2011.
There will be a 9am two tee start, bacon rolls and coffee will be available and there will be a BBQ and prize giving with Q&A and auction.
4-balls cost £250 excluding VAT or £300 for a 3-ball plus a Gloucester rugby player.
To find out more about James Simpson Daniel’s testimonial year click here. To book for the golf day click here.
A huge thanks to all who took part in the SACA bike ride for WellChild
The 2011 SACA Charity Bike Ride was a huge success on July 23 and 24, and WellChild would like to thank all the many organisers and riders for their hard work.
WellChild Chief Executive Colin Dyer said: “I would like to thank SACA and all the riders who took part for their tremendous efforts for WellChild. All their hard work and fundraising will be of enormous benefit as we carry out our programmes of care, support and research to help seriously ill children and their families across the UK.”
A spokesperson for SACA reported back on the event:
Towns and villages woke to a sea of 200 cyclists riding a massive 130 miles from Birmingham to London in aid of the charity WellChild. This was the 24th Charity Bike Ride organised by SACA, (the Sikh Arts and Cultural Association), and attracted riders of all backgrounds from across the country with one common goal – to do something positive and raise money for those who are less fortunate.
SACA, a wholly voluntary organisation, has raised over £275,000 for charity, including WellChild, Whizz Kids SCOPE, NSPCC, 'Help a London Child ' (Capital Radio FM), Cash for Kids (BRMBFM), Wolverhampton’s Children's ward, Ealing Hospital’s 'Playground in the Sky', Dr Barnado's, Contact a Family, Red Cross, dEBra and the Downs Syndrome Research Foundation.
Over 200 cyclists started from Smethwick in Birmingham on Saturday morning (July 23 at 8am). Cyclists rode all day tackling steep hills, supported by an entourage of support personnel, from dedicated ambulance services, ride marshals to bike mechanics and refreshment teams. Riders were even treated to on board osteopaths at various stops along the route to help relax those overworked muscles.
The ride closed off its first leg in Luton, Guru Nanak Gurdwara, who’s congregation gave the riders the warmest welcome and laid on a spectacular feast and fireworks display for all to enjoy.
After a well deserved break, the riders set off for a final leg of their journey, navigating even more gruelling hills but persevering to accomplish their goal. The second day started at 9am, with the warm weather on their side they conquered this great feat and reached Southall in West London for 13:00.
Riders were greeted by a cheering crowd of friends and families and the event exploded into a street party, with DJ’s leading a procession through Southall Broadway with riders dancing in jubilation and volunteers in costumes collecting donations behind.
A huge festival was laid on for the riders at Southall park with live acts, food stalls and a presentation ceremony to congratulate the riders.
A big thank you goes out to all the riders and volunteers, from both SACA and WellChild (especially Stacy) that took this weekend out to do something amazing for the children of WellChild.
The SACA organisation is grateful to Ealing Council, for allowing the ride to finish at Southall park and giving us every support to make the event a truly memorable experience.
In addition, the SACA organisation would like to thank all that took part in this ride, the list of organisations below is not exhaustive of all that took part:
- The support of all the riders and their families
- Everyone that took the time to come to Southall to welcome the riders,
- The cyclist support team,
- The Metropolitan Police, The Thames Valley Police (especially Rod Hardy who always goes that extra mile),
- Gurdwara's in Smethwick ( Birmingham ), Luton, Miri Piri Gurdwara on Southall Broadway,
- Those that donated along the route, and gave us support and encouragement
- Rocky's for providing food and refreshments,
- all the truckers and support teams (inc SACA motor bike marshals),
- M & L ambulances who spend the whole weekend with us ensuring the ride is safe.
- SACA Team members: Esther, Dave, Sandy , Raj, Harmi, Savinder, Surinder, Bobby, Jatinder , Ranj , Chas, Bachu, Pala and not forgetting the fantastic team that organised refreshments and Osteo treatments at every stop,
- All sponsoring organisations
Be part of the Medicines for Children project
WellChild would love to hear from parents who would be interested in joining a parents panel to give us their views on the new Medicines for Children website.
We are working on this project in partnership with the Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Group and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
Medicines for Children is a website providing information leaflets about medicines written for parents and carers which are also suitable for older children. The new website is now under construction and we would really like to hear from parents who would be interested in reviewing and giving feedback on the new website as it’s developed.
We know your time is very precious and we will make sure your involvement is as easy as possible via phone and email without committing you to attending meetings.
If you feel able to help us with this important project which will help families and children then please email Amy Wright at WellChild.
New WellChild Nursing Advisory Panel members
WellChild is delighted to announce two new members of the Nursing Advisory Panel - Karen Brombley and Dr Mark Whiting.
Karen is Nurse Consultant for Children and Young People's Palliative Care in Oxfordshire and has over 20 years experience of working with children and young people with acute, chronic, life limiting and complex health needs.
Karen says: "I am delighted to have been invited to join the NAP. I have worked with Wellchild Nurses in the past and fully support their focus on ‘Better at Home’ and the value that generalist community children’s nurses bring to children, young people and families"
Dr Mark Whiting is currently employed as a Consultant Nurse for Children with Complex Health Needs in Hertfordshire. He has a wide range of experience and expertise based upon 25 years of clinical and related practice in the field of community children’s nursing.
He said: "I am absolutely thrilled by my appointment to the WellChild Nurse Advisory Panel. Community children’s nursing has been my passion for the last twenty five years and the work of WellChild is very much in tune with my own aspirations to ensure that children’s community nursing services work tirelessly to keep children out of hospital and in their own home. I am really looking forward to working not just with the panel members but with WellChild more generally to support its fantastic work for children.”
With these two new appointments, we have sadly had to say goodbye to two NAP members who have been involved with the NAP since the formation of the panel. We would like to send our sincere thanks to Cathy Cairns and Mary Lewis for their support.
