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Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cambridge has sent a personal message of support for Children’s Hospice Week 2022, asking everyone to join her in celebrating the extraordinary work the UK’s 54 children’s hospices do for children and young people with life-limiting conditions, helping families make the most of their lives together, no matter how short. The Duchess is Royal Patron of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).

Children's Hospice South West (CHSW) is one of the charities joining The Duchess in marking Children's Hospice Week. CHSW is delighted that The Duchess has sent a special message showing how children’s hospices help seriously ill children and families. The Duchess’s message shines a light on the extraordinary lifeline support that children’s hospices provide, so families don’t have to face the future alone.

Children’s Hospice Week (20-26 June) is organised by Together for Short Lives, the UK charity for seriously ill children and families, and is the only week in the year dedicated to raising funds and awareness for children’s hospice services across the UK, and the thousands of children and families they support.

The theme for Children’s Hospice Week is “For The Children.” Children’s hospices provide vital support for children and young people with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition. Everything they do is For The Children – helping families make the most of their lives together, whether that’s for years, months or only hours. 

Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cambridge’s message of support for Children’s Hospice Week can be viewed here.

In an excerpt from the message, The Duchess says:

This Children’s Hospice Week, I hope you’ll join me in celebrating the extraordinary work they do and thank them for the life-changing care and support they provide to children and families going through the toughest of times.

Andy Fletcher CEO for Together for Short Lives said:
“The Duchess of Cambridge, as Royal Patron for EACH, is a fantastic ambassador for seriously ill children and their families and the children’s hospices that they rely on. The Duchess’s support for Children’s Hospice Week over many years has helped to raise awareness, so more families understand the lifeline care hospices provide, and all that they do to bring joy and fun to families’ lives – giving them the chance to be parents, not carers. We join The Duchess in celebrating the lifeline care children’s hospices provide for families facing the unimaginable.

“As The Duchess says, hearing the news that your child will die young is heart-breaking, and families often tell us they feel isolated and alone, and just don’t know where to turn to for support. That’s why children’s hospices are so vital. Everything they do is ‘For The Children,’ helping families make the most of every moment, whether that’s for years, months or only days.” 

Phil Gormley CEO for EACH said:
“Children’s Hospice Week is a time to celebrate and raise awareness of the incredible work children’s hospices do for children and families facing the unimaginable.

“It is an important week for our staff and volunteers, as well as the children, young people and families who need our care, and we very much appreciate and value The Duchess’s support.

“In the last decade, she has been a wonderful Royal Patron. Her interest and profile have projected our charity and the importance of children’s hospice services onto the national and international stage and it is appreciated by everyone at EACH.

“For all involved, it is a huge privilege, as much now as in January 2012.”