Together for Short Lives and Morrisons have announced a new partnership that will provide vital support for families cared for by Derian House Children’s Hospice.
The three-year-partnership launches today (15 February 2022), with the charity and the supermarket giant set to raise vital funds for children’s hospices across the country.
Together for Short Lives is the only charity supporting the UK’s children’s hospices, including Derian House Children’s Hospice and families facing the heartbreak that their child will die young.
David Robinson, CEO at Derian House said, “We are delighted that Morrisons’ staff have chosen Together for Short Lives as their new charity partner. It costs us £5 million every year to run services at Derian House and yet we receive only 12% of this from government funding.
“This partnership will greatly benefit the hospice, helping us to continue to care for the children and young people who need us most.”
Derian House provides lifeline support to families facing up to the heartbreak of their child dying young, right in the heart of the North West.
Families like Nick’s, whose baby daughter Isabelle suffered significant brain damage during birth. Sadly, Nick’s wife, Rachel, died from a rare complication of pregnancy.
Isabelle, born 24 April, 2019, remained stable for five months but her condition later worsened. In July of 2020 Isabelle moved to Derian House.
Derian House gave Isabelle’s dad, Nick, a chance to breathe amongst the anxieties of managing hospital visits, medication and the huge responsibility of caring for a seriously ill child. He and his family were able to care for Isabelle while also making precious memories.
Andy Fletcher, CEO at Together for Short Lives, said: “Hearing the news that your child is seriously ill is devastating – families can be left feeling scared and alone.
“I can’t tell you what a difference this amazing new partnership will make for these families. Knowing that Morrisons colleagues up and down the country are on their side, means the absolute world.
“The money raised through our partnership will give families access to vital care from local children’s hospices and help them to spend less time worrying and more time making memories together. It will also enable us to reach thousands more families caring for a seriously ill child who need support.”
Every Morrisons store is calling on local shoppers to join them for their special ‘Butterfly Bonanza’ between 14 – 27 February – a fortnight of fundraising activities to mark the launch of the partnership, as the charity’s famous butterfly flies up and down the country in support of seriously ill children.
David Potts, CEO at Morrisons, said:
“Together for Short Lives is an amazing charity which supports families through immensely difficult times, and hearing the very important stories from families who have received their support was incredibly moving for everyone at Morrisons.
“I’m really looking forward to our partnership with Together for Short Lives and helping to raise vital funds to support families with seriously ill children and the wonderful hospices that care for them.”
