insideKENT Magazine Issue 86 - May 2019 | Page 156

CHARITY
Tree of Hope
KENT-BASED CHARITY, TREE OF HOPE, HAS BEEN TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF SERIOUSLY ILL AND
DISABLED CHILDREN FOR OVER 25 YEARS BY ENABLING THEIR FAMILIES TO FUNDRAISE FOR THE
MEDICAL TREATMENT, THERAPY AND EQUIPMENT THAT THE UK HEALTH SERVICE CANNOT PROVIDE.
THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN REGISTERED AS DISABLED IN THE UK HAS RISEN BY 33% IN THE LAST
DECADE AND WITH A £1.5BN FUNDING GAP FOR SERVICES NEEDED BY THEM, TREE OF HOPE’S
SUPPORT IS MORE CRITICAL THAN EVER. THE CHARITY AIMS TO REACH, AND SUPPORT, EACH FAMILY
THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM THEIR HELP AND GIVE THEIR CHILD THE BEST QUALITY OF LIFE.
Supporting children nationwide, Tree of Hope
enables children to access vital equipment and
therapy, that without them, they wouldn’t receive.
Including, seven-year-old Ella Burrows whose family
turned to Tree of Hope just over two years ago to
help them raise £12,000 for a pioneering piece of
equipment. With Tree of Hope’s support, Ella’s
family were able to raise an incredible £6,000 within
their local community and reached their target much
sooner than they hoped with Tree of Hope’s
fundraising team securing a grant to fulfil the
remaining £6,000. This piece of equipment enables
Ella, who was diagnosed with brain damage shortly
before her first birthday, to stand unassisted,
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strengthen her muscles and increase her body's load-
bearing capacity. Additionally the device improves
her respiration and aids her gastrointestinal function.
“Tree of Hope has helped make my family’s dream
become possible,” Sue Burt, Ella’s mother comments.
The device now prevents Ella’s condition from getting
worse and releases her from suffering any more pain.
More importantly, it’s a lot of fun for Ella!
Hamilton of Cocolicious and Fran & Richard Lee
of the Greyhound at Charcott behind them, they
launched Dine and Donate, created The Cook Book
– Sevenoaks, Tonbridge & Tunbridge Wells, and
this summer will be hosting The Ultimate Pop to
raise vital funds to transform the lives of even more
seriously ill and disabled children in the UK.
THE COOK BOOK
In the last year, amongst many other fundraising
initiatives, Tree of Hope’s fundraising has capitalised
on the foodie frenzy that has taken over the nation.
With supporters such as Will Devlin, LouLou
You may have seen The Cook Book – Sevenoaks, Tonbridge
& Tunbridge Wells floating around eateries across
West Kent which has raised over £15,000 to date.