Our progress
Michael Crawford visits Eckerlsey House to boost 'The Big Move' campaign
Michael Crawford OBE has been President of The Sick Children’s Trust since 1987 and on Tuesday 28th July he made a special visit to Eckersley House to help boost our fundraising campaign.
“I’ve been a supporter of The Sick Children’s Trust for over 20 years and I’m still touched by the stories of the families that use ‘A Home from Home.’ The Sick Children’s Trust ensures that the very basic of all medicines has a chance to work; family love and support. We ensure that mum has a private room to cry, dad can get some much needed sleep, and siblings are nearby to lighten the mood. But most importantly, we help families to stay close by to their sick child at all times making a real difference to their recovery.”
“Eckersley House needs public support now more than ever to build a new house near to the Leeds General Infirmary, and I’m here to lend my support,” says Crawford.
The Big Move
Eckersley House has provided accommodation for the families of seriously ill children receiving treatment at St James Hospital in Leeds for the past 16 years – but that is about to change. St James’s Hospital is moving its children’s wards to the Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) to create a paediatric Centre of Excellence. By July 2010 the majority of children’s wards will be moved to the new centre.
Sadly this means by July of next year Eckersley House will no longer be needed in its present location. So we have decided to move Eckersley House to a new site just two minutes walk from the new children’s wards at the LGI. Plus, we are increasing the facility from 16 to 22 bedrooms to help even more families in their time of need.
The Sick Children’s Trust will be the sole provider of family accommodation at the LGI; so if we don’t move Eckersley House, every year hundreds of sick children will have to undergo prolonged medical treatment without their families being close by.
‘The Big Move’ to our new site at the LGI will cost £1.8million and work is scheduled to begin in December 2009 - so we really need your help to raise those vital funds!
Update on progress
Keep track of all the progress being made for our new house right here. Here are the most up-to date photos from the project.
Step-by-Step
There are many ways you can get involved in the fundraising, one way is to help us reach our new location…step-by-step... it will take approximately 6300 footsteps to get from St James’s to the location at the LGI, why not buy your step and help us get closer…
- £25 buys a Baby Step - receive a personalised certificate
- £50 buys a Toddler Step - receive a personalised certificate.
- £100 buys a Nursery Step - receive certificate and entry on online donor register
- £500 buys a Big Step - certificate, online donor register and feature in special register book at the house
- £1000 buys a Giant Step - certificate, online donor register, feature in special register book and invite to special opening event
- £5000 buys a Whopping Step - certificate, online donor register, feature in special register book, invite to special opening event and name featured on plaque permanently on display in house
You can buy a 'step' or make a donation online simply by clicking on the Make a Donation button on the right hand menu.
If you would like to get involved in ‘The Big Move’ fundraising campaign or would like to talk about ways in which your company, school or club could get invovled, please contact
Vicki Smith - Regional Fundraiser
07525 424406
