Charity of the Month: Childhood Cancer Awareness - EACH

September was a difficult month for us to choose just one charity to highlight, so we will feature a different charity each week.

Why was it so difficult? Well, simply because this month features two words that should never be associated together, Childhood Cancer Awareness.

Going Gold for September is well known to those who have been or know of someone affected by childhood cancer. Whether rare or not, the effects can be life-changing and sadly, in some cases, sadly, life-ending.

The aim for this month is for us to raise awareness by not only sharing some of the scary statistics that surround this horrible disease but also the stories behind some of our local charities that help not only with grants and information but also listen because they know firsthand what parents are going through.

East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH), deliver all-encompassing, lifelong care that includes a comprehensive range of services to support both bereaved and non-bereaved families. They aim to ensure the best possible quality of life for babies, children, and young people facing long-term illness, life-threatening conditions, and sadly, palliative care through to end of life support. The life-long support includes specialist nursing, therapies, and ongoing well-being care through all the ups and downs.

Depending on a family’s needs and wishes, they can provide care in one of their fully equipped hospices, in the family home, in hospital, or in the wider community. This ensures every family receives care somewhere they feel safe and comfortable. The hospices are situated at Milton (Cambridge), The Treehouse (Ipswich) and the most recent being The Nook (Norwich).

Support can also be given in the form of respite breaks which are desperately needed for families who are dealing with life changing situations.

EACH is a charity and as with all charities, fundraising is crucial to the support which is provided. Along with the hospices, you will see many charity shops in around the county where you can take unwanted clothing and items for re-sale. Charity shops are also entitled to then claim gift aid on the donations made.

If you'd like to get involved with fundraising for EACH in other ways, find out more about fundraising, events, and volunteering here.