Be a Rockinghorse Star this Christmas
Find out how you can support thousands of children spending time in hospital this Christmas.
“I will always be thankful to Rockinghorse for putting a smile on my face and allowing me to make memories over an difficult Christmas.”
Tom, who spent Christmas in the Royal Alex.
Helping Christmas happen.
In the run up to Christmas, we are once again running our ‘Be a Rockinghorse Star’ campaign to raise funds to make sure that no child visiting or staying in hospital throughout Sussex this Christmas misses out on the festive fun.
Spending time in hospital over Christmas isn’t fun for anyone, but it’s even worse for children – not knowing if Father Christmas will know where to find them, not being able to enjoy Christmas at home with their family, not to mention being scared and worried about their treatment.
Our aim is to take Christmas to these children by delivering advent calendars and gifts to children in hospital, putting on Christmas parties and festive activities, bringing Santa and donkeys to the hospitals, as well as delivering Christmas meals and hampers to families on Christmas day.
How you can help.
Whatever you can do will help so many children and families.
You could make a donation using our online form here, you could arrange a present collection in your local area or your company could sponsor a star in a dazzling projection on the side of the Royal Alexandra Children’s hospital in December.
Donna Holland, CEO of Rockinghorse Children’s Charity explains why your support is so vital: “Christmas is an especially busy time for the charity. Over the coming months we will support the families who already know they are going to be in hospital at Christmas; Those who have just got a diagnosis, or whose child is already sick.
“They know that Christmas day will be spent on a ward, in a treatment room or having surgery.
“But we also support the families who don’t know they are going to be in hospital yet. They will be planning for Christmas as normal, but sometime in the next month or so, something will happen that will completely change their plans. A cough that doesn’t go away, a temperate that keeps on rising or an accident waiting to happen.
“At Rockinghorse, we support all children and their families. We do anything we can to help them feel more at home in hospital this Christmas.”
Spending time in hospital at Christmas
Tom spent his 14th Christmas in intensive care at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital.
Tom’s mum Laura explains more, “It was fast approaching Christmas and like most families we were running around like headless chickens getting everything ready, well that was until the curve ball hit us! My son Tom, who was 14 at the time, was rushed to hospital for an emergency hip operation following a bad fall. It was his first time in hospital, and he was obviously extremely anxious.
“As a mum Christmas was certainly pushed to the back of my mind, all I wanted was for Tom to be home in time, but because his operation was on Christmas Eve, this wouldn’t have been possible.
“So, our Christmas was spent around Tom’s bed making the most of the situation.
“This is when we discovered the fantastic charity, Rockinghorse. Father Christmas arrived with a parcel for Tom and we were given a Christmas hamper which was filled to the brim with food and goodies for us all.”
Despite their situation, Tom had a good experience, “They gifted me a remote-control helicopter which instantly put a smile on my face.
“I will always be thankful to the charity for putting a smile on my face and allowing me to make memories over an unfortunate Christmas period.”
And Laura added, “Rockinghorse made our situation so much better and happier for us all by providing gifts for the children and a Christmas dinner for us and we honestly can’t thank them enough. A smile was brought to everyone’s’ face.”
So if you’re a local business you could make the difference to thousands of children in hospital this Christmas.
To sponsor a star, please complete the form below or email our Senior Corporate Engagement Manager Amanda Hetherington at amanda@rockingorse.org.uk.