Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cambridge, as Royal Patron of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, will visit Naomi House Children’s Hospice during Children’s Hospice Week. The visit will take place on Monday 29 April.
Children’s Hospice Week, organised by Together for Short Lives, is the only UK wide awareness and fundraising campaign for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, and the services, like children’s hospices, that support them.
During the visit to Naomi House Children’s Hospice, The Duchess of Cambridge will see all the hospice facilities including the hydrotherapy pool, children’s bedrooms and gardens. The Duchess will meet children, young people and families who rely on the services provided by the charity near Winchester.
Following the tour, Her Royal Highness will take tea with brothers and sisters of children cared for at the hospice and will then listen to a live performance of ‘Free’, a song written by a Naomi House sibling, Ollie Wade, as a tribute to his deceased brother.
Welcoming The Duchess’s visit to Naomi House Children’s Hospice, Barbara Gelb, CEO of Together for Short Lives said:
“I am so delighted and very excited that Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cambridge, as Royal Patron of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, will be visiting Naomi House in Children’s Hospice Week. This will mean so much to the children and families who are supported by Naomi House, and all the UK’s 49,000 children with palliative care needs and their families. The Duchess’s visit will make such a difference and will help to raise awareness of what these families need today and in the future.”
Professor Khalid Aziz, Chairman at Naomi House, was present when The Duchess’s father-in-law, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, opened Naomi House in 1997, and is looking forward to this forthcoming royal visitor.
We are delighted that Her Royal Highness has chosen Naomi House to visit at the start of Children’s Hospice Week. Her presence will provide a real boost for our families, our volunteers and all of our dedicated staff who will be thrilled to meet her.
Professor Khalid Aziz, Chairman at Naomi House
Mark Smith, Deputy Chief Executive at Naomi House, added, “We are delighted to welcome HRH the Duchess of Cambridge to Naomi House and are thrilled she chose to visit us to support Children’s Hospice Week. The work of children’s hospices in supporting children and families with life limiting and life threatening conditions can only be delivered with the support of the public and Her Royal Highness’s visit will help to raise the profile of the services we provide and the need for continuing community support.”
Children’s Hospice Week starts on 26 April and culminates with Superhero Friday on 3 May. Many of the UK’s children’s hospices and palliative care services are taking part in the week’s fundraising and awareness raising activities. You can find out what’s going on in your local areas and how you can get involved by visiting www.childrenshospiceweek.org.uk
