Guest Blog Post – Children’s Hospice South West
CHSW Dart Art Day – Saturday 29th June – 10am to 4pm – Royal Avenue Gardens, Dartmouth
On Saturday 29th June, Dartmouth & District Friends Group will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of their art and craft event in aid of Children’s Hospice South West. Dart Art Day will take place from 10am to 4pm in Royal Avenue Gardens and promises to be another lovely occasion to celebrate and support this incredible charity. The aim is to raise as much money as possible to help the charity to make the most of the short and precious lives of children not likely to reach adulthood – last year over £3,300 was raised.
Continuing the success of the one-day Dart Art Day, after 17 years as the Dartmouth Art Weekend, there is sure to be the same wonderful, friendly atmosphere with 22 artists and craft workers in their gazebos in Dartmouth’s Royal Avenue Gardens, with all their work available to buy. Stallholders are attending by invitation only due to limited numbers, giving better space for all. As well as all the stalls with arts and crafts galore, there will be a range of musical entertainment, balloon sculptures, CHSW tombolas, as well as teas, homemade cakes, cream teas and sandwiches provided by Children’s Hospice volunteers and supporters.
This event is an important fundraiser for Children’s Hospice South West to help the charity to continue to provide essential specialist care and support for over 550 families with life-limited children in the South West. The support provided involves specialist palliative care, respite for the whole family, a sibling service for brothers and sisters, emergency support, end of life care and a bereavement service for as long as is needed. This costs just under £12 million each year and only 11% of income is provided by government so fundraising events are vital to ensure essential support can continue.
The CHSW Dartmouth & District Friends Group meets monthly to organise events locally to raise money and awareness of this wonderful charity. For more information or to offer help in any way, however little or infrequent, please contact Sue at tweed833@btinternet.com or on 07955197721.
Notes: Children’s Hospice South West was founded 33 years ago by Eddie Farwell and his late wife, Jill, after they experienced for themselves the urgent need for hospice care for children in the South West, including for their two eldest children who both had life-limiting illnesses. Sadly, the two children and Eddie’s wife died but the work continues with Eddie still working as CEO. The charity now has three hospices in the region: Little Bridge House near Barnstaple, Charlton Farm near Bristol, and Little Harbour near St Austell, where specialist care and support is provided for the whole family. For more information, see the website at www.chsw.org.uk.
