Hospice appeal: "Our experience as a family going to Martin House has been extraordinary."

The Walker family are looking forward to a weekend away - at Martin House Children's Hospice.
The Yorkshire Children's Hospices' Appeal is aiming to raise 30,000.The Yorkshire Children's Hospices' Appeal is aiming to raise 30,000.
The Yorkshire Children's Hospices' Appeal is aiming to raise 30,000.

For they say visiting the hospice near Wetherby is a lifeline for them.

Holly Walker, now 18, was diagnosed with Retts syndrome at the age of two.

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The rare neurological disorder affects the development of the brain, so Holly is unable to walk or talk and is dependent on her parents or carers for every activity.

The Walker family, who get invaluable support from Martin House Children's Hospice.The Walker family, who get invaluable support from Martin House Children's Hospice.
The Walker family, who get invaluable support from Martin House Children's Hospice.

Her family had lived with her diagnosis for over 10 years before they discovered Martin House, one of three children’s hospices in Yorkshire set to benefit from our year-long charity appeal.

Julie, a midwife, was on a professional study day about death in childhood when she suddenly realised the children being discussed were similar to her daughter.

“I thought does this mean my Holly is going to die?”, she said. “I was beside myself and I had to leave the day.”

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It was a devastating realisation, but it led the Walker family to Martin House.

The Walker family, who get invaluable support from Martin House Children's Hospice.The Walker family, who get invaluable support from Martin House Children's Hospice.
The Walker family, who get invaluable support from Martin House Children's Hospice.

“It was definitely a life changing point for us, ” said Julie..

Since finding the hospice, Julie says it has made a huge difference to her, husband Lee and their other children Elliot, 12, and 10-year-old twins Isobel and Phoebe.

“Our experience as a family going to Martin House has been extraordinary.

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“We have met lifelong friends, who like us have found themselves caring for our beautiful children who have lifelong battles with ill-health.”

During Holly’s visits, she is pampered with treats like manicures, pedicures and sessions in the spa pool.

The family has also taken part in an “amazing” project through the hospice with Northern Ballet which involved music, movement, ballet and photography.

They’re keen fundraisers and Julie’s latest challenge has been to go on a liquid diet for January, in solidarity with Holly who is fed by tube.

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The whole family look forward to weekend stays at the hospice, where Julie and Lee can have a break from their caring responsibilities.

“It’s being able to sleep, to relax and to do things with our other children that we wouldn’t normally do, ” Julie said.

“It’s just an amazing place.”

How you can support the Yorkshire Children's Hospices' Appeal

Our paper and other sister titles across Yorkshire are to raise money for the three Yorkshire children’s hospices for the next 12 months.

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For the first time, Martin House near Wetherby, Bluebell Wood in Sheffield and Forget-Me-Not in Huddersfield are teaming up to jointly benefit.

And we need the help of our readers to reach our £30,000 target so the hospices can continue their excellent work supporting the families of nearly 1,000 children and young people with life-shortening conditions.

You could host a cake sale, raffle or other fundraising event at your school, church, club or workplace. Download a fundraising pack here.

You can also donate to the appeal here or send a cheque, made payable to Yorkshire Children’s Hospices’ Appeal, to: Kayla Lindsey, Yorkshire Post, No 1 Leeds, 26 Whitehall Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire; LS12 1BE.

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