insideKENT Magazine Issue 38 - May 2015 | Page 155

CHARITY

new name to help build vital
kent charity
A KENT CHARITY, WHICH PROVIDES VITAL HOSPICE CARE IN THE HOMES OF
SERIOUSLY ILL CHILDREN ACROSS THE COUNTY, HAS A NEW NAME.
As of 7th April, EllenorLions Hospices and its
children and young people service, chYps, will
be known as 'ellenor'.
Serving a community of one million, ellenor is
the only charity in Kent to provide hospice care
for people of all ages – whether it's a newborn
baby, child, teenager, adult, or elderly person in
the final moments of their life.
With demand for services rapidly increasing,
operating under one name is crucial to enable
the charity to raise funds to provide vital 24/7
care to local families. As Rachel Holweger director
,
of fundraising at ellenor, explains: “Raising income
is becoming increasingly difficult when we are
faced with such a competitive fundraising arena,
and we’ve found that the confusion around our
existing service in the community is becoming
greater.
“It’s essential that we strengthen our focus now
to ensure we can continue to raise enough money
to be able to provide care to more people who
need our help.”
An important part of ellenor’s work is caring for
over 150 children with life-limiting and lifethreatening conditions in the comfort of their
own home, and providing consistency of support
for teenagers who later require care as adults.

This care is available to families living in Maidstone,
Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks,
Gravesham, Dartford, Swanley, Bexley and
surrounding villages.
Mum Liz Green, whose baby daughter Mia is
under the care of ellenor, said: “Nothing can
prepare you for having a life-limited child. Mia
has brain damage caused by a bleed on the
brain and in her first few days of life, we faced
saying goodbye to our daughter.
“Now, with the 24/7 help and support of ellenor
we can care for her at home. We could be
blessed with five to 15 years with our precious
daughter and every year we reach will be a
milestone. I feel safe knowing ellenor will be by
our side throughout.”
Each year ellenor provides pain and symptom
relief and end-of-life care to around 1,500 adults
in north Kent in their place of choice – whether
it's their own home, at the charity’s hospice in
Gravesend or in local care homes.
The charity also supports families throughout a
loved one’s illness, and after they have died, by
offering emotional, bereavement and spiritual
care, and financial advice.

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ellenor’s chief executive, Claire Cardy, said: “We
are proud to offer the best care and support to
families facing terminal illness in Kent. As a charity
,
not part of the NHS, we are reliant on the
generosity of our local community to be able to
provide this vital hospice care free of charge to
families. Now, more than ever, we hope
individuals, clubs, groups and businesses will
continue to show their support to ellenor, their
local charity.”

To find out how you can support ellenor, visit
www.ellenor.org or call the fundraising team
on 01322 626504.
Keep ellenor in your timeline on
Facebook/ellenorcharity and twitter
@ellenorcharity. For patient help and
information, call 01474 32007.