MELKSHAM charity Evie’s Gift is appealing for donations this Christmas to help support families whose children will be spending the festive period in hospital.
Evie’s Gift was set up by the parents of 13-year old Evie Clover, Bryan and Patsy, after she died in January last year after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Since March last year, the charity has been raising money to help families with the cost of two nights’ accommodation whilst their child is in hospital when free hospital or charity accommodation is not available. They also offer financial support towards food and travel costs.
This Christmas the charity is appealing for donations to help continue this support throughout the festive season, and also send small Christmas hampers to families staying at a Ronald McDonald House – a charity that provides free ‘home away from home’ accommodation to families.
Parents Carly and Kelvin explain how the charity helped them in a time of crisis, “Evie’s Gift are not just a charity, they are heroes to parents whose children are fighting for their lives. When our 5-year old son Ollie was fighting for his life in Bristol Children Hospital’s intensive care unit, we were given an application form for Evie’s Gift.
“We hadn’t slept for three days, showered, even changed clothes. We were more exhausted than we could even explain. Evie’s Gift gave us the ability to sleep, shower and refresh.
“I can’t even begin to explain the difference Evie’s Gift made to us. They paid for a room for two nights. A bed and a shower proved crucial to our continuous fight alongside our son. They gave us money to be able to eat. We hadn’t had a meal in days. We got into the ambulance with just our phones. Their help was everything in a point of complete crisis and we will be forever grateful.”
Evie’s father and chairman of Evie’s Gift, Bryan says, “To donate, you can send a cheque, payable to ‘Evie’s Gift’ to 2 Farmhouse Court, Melksham, SN12 6FG or you can donate £3 by text by texting EVIE 3 to 70085, texts cost your donation plus your standard message rate. You can donate any amount from £1 to £20. Thank you. We are a local charity and every pound helps.”
To read more about the work of Evie’s Gift, visit: www.eviesgift.org.uk