The COVID-19 Panademic is effecting us all in some way but for children suffering with cancer, this has made a difficult time even harder. The Susie P Foundation made a donation to the Candlelighters Charity in March and we recieved this fantastic letter from them, telling us how the money has helped families during the last few months. Please take a read:
10th July 2020
Dear Mr Pruchniewicz and all at The Susie P Foundation,
I hope this letter finds you well and that you are keeping safe during this difficult time.
It has been three months since The Susie P Foundation kindly made a grant of £11,400 to Candlelighters, in order to provide twelve weeks of virtual support services to ten families being affected by the devastating impact of COVID-19.
This grant has made an enormous difference to families facing childhood cancer, and I just wanted to get back in touch to thank you once again for your generous support, and to update you on the impact it has had.
During recent months, these families have faced enormous hardship, with many being required to shield at home, and others facing time apart, with hospital restrictions meaning only one parent could be on the ward with their child, remaining there permanently to avoid bringing the virus to the ward.
Even more recently as we strive to build a new normal and some of these restrictions ease, families are entering a new, daunting phase of the pandemic. Many face psychological and emotional challenges as they make decisions on how to adapt to new guidelines, whilst limiting risk and protecting their child. Decisions such as parents returning to work and siblings returning to school are putting extra pressure on what can often be a strained family unit. With usual support networks still reduced and anxiety heightened, many families continue to face threats to their mental
wellbeing.
The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic will be felt by our families for some time, but for as long as it is, we will be there to support them. By continuing to offer our adapted support services, we will ensure families do not face these uncertain times alone.
With your incredible support, since the beginning of lockdown Candlelighters have been able to deliver:
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Financial grants to 52 families (totalling £24,150):
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86 Talking Therapy Sessions
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93 Wellbeing Sessions
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34 Peer Support Groups
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Regular Check-ins to 28 families
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153 Arts & Crafts Sessions
Families have told us:
“I found this (1:1 talking therapy session) immensely helpful, even if it wasn’t face to face, it was nice to have someone who knew the basis of what we are going through; somebody that you could trust and who understood what we were talking about.”
"My little girl really enjoyed today’s session. It was great to see her so at ease as and she enjoyed being able to talk to the team about her favourite things. Me and my husband are very grateful for your services it is nice to see our little girl being sociable still when it is one of the things you worry about most in lockdown"
“He loved today’s craft session, thank you so much. I feel he really comes out of himself and values himself during the sessions. It does him so much good! He’s had so many massive knockbacks (like all the kids you deal with) and these sessions are such a positive distraction and aid for him.”
“I just wanted to reach out to you to say thank you. My son was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia at the end of March and spent 5 weeks on L33 at LGI before being discharged home. We were lucky to receive the £600 grant from Candlelighters, which has been a great help having some additional income to assist with travel to Leeds and the additional items that my son has needed.”
Without supporters such as The Susie P Charitable Foundation, we would not be able to continue providing these vital services.
On behalf of all of us here at Candlelighters, thank you for your continued support and for helping us to keep our candle burning and bring light to families in these darkest of times.
Yours sincerely,
Roz Walton
Trusts and Foundations Executive