Family’s gratitude to charity

8:12am Friday 16th May 2008

A FAMILY has held a fundraising event to say a big thank you to a charity that provides accommodation for the relatives of children in hospital.

Jenson Carter needed life-saving operations at the Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary for problems with his heart and oesophagus after his birth in January of last year.

His parents Steve and Angela, of Belmont, Durham City, were able to be close by during his four months of treatment by staying at Crawford House.

Crawford House, which opened in 1996, is a home from home for the families of sick children and is provided by the Sick Children's Trust, which receives no funding from the Government.

It has 16 bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen, quiet rooms and a laundry.

Parents, as well as children, can stay there as long as their child is in hospital - all for free.

The charity has six other homes across the country and needs £800,000 a year to continue its work.

There is also the £470,000 appeal, Raising the Roof, which was opened by ex-Newcastle United player Alan Shearer, to build an extension to Crawford House.

The Carter family and their friends have so far raised £7,000 for the charity and the latest event was a sell-out evening at the Botanic Garden in Durham City last night, organised by Jenson's grandparents Carol and David, of the Merryoaks area of the city.

Mrs Carter said: "It is raising awareness of the unit because a lot of people don't know it is there, even though a lot of people who use it come from south of Newcastle.'' For more information about the appeal, and to make a donation, visit the Sick Children's Trust website sickchildrenstrust.org or call 0207- 77912266.

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