3 peaks challenge in memory of Ellie

On 21st September, 25 of us are taking on the challenge of the three peaks – three of the largest mountains in the UK (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowden) – all in 24 hours. Not a small challenge! Why are we doing this? Sadly, in February this year The Good Care Group’s Operations Director Dominique Kent and her husband Iain Gordon lost their daughter, Ellie at the age of 4 years following complications with a condition that Ellie had lived with from birth – see her story below. Ellie’s family had to make the heart-wrenching decision to stop feeding her and one of the few comforts at this time was the care and support they received from the incredible, Helen and Douglas House Hospice. The hospice relies totally on donations and fund raising activities like ours.

On 21^st September, 25 of us are taking on the challenge of the three peaks – three of the largest mountains in the UK (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowden) – all in 24 hours. Not a small challenge! Why are we doing this? Sadly, in February this year The Good Care Group’s Operations Director Dominique Kent and her husband Iain Gordon lost their daughter, Ellie at the age of 4 years following complications with a condition that Ellie had lived with from birth – see her story below. Ellie’s family had to make the heart-wrenching decision to stop feeding her and one of the few comforts at this time was the care and support they received from the incredible, Helen and Douglas House Hospice. The hospice relies totally on donations and fund raising activities like ours.

So please if you can spare a few moments and pounds to sponsor our three peaks challenge and help us achieve our fundraising target, we would all be very grateful and our efforts will ensure other families who have to watch their child pass away can have the same wonderful support Ellie’s family did. Even a very small amount really will make all the difference. You can do this simply by clicking the link below to access the charity fundraising page.

Thank you for your support.

http://my.helenanddouglas.org.uk/3peaksforellie

“Ellie had a genetic disorder called Mitochondria disease as well as Dystonia, which is a movement disorder. For Ellie, this meant that despite her age, she was never able to walk, talk, sit up or enjoy a day to day life like us. Despite this she had her own way of communicating and we all knew what Ellie wanted or needed. She was a special little girl who bought joy to all her family and friends.

When Ellie got sick she spent 3 months at the John Radcliffe hospital. Sadly despite their best efforts Ellie’s stomach stopped working and we made the difficult decision to move her to Helen and Douglas House Hospice to spend her final days. The hospice is a very special place, it caters for everyone in the family. We were able to stay at the hospice to spend as much time with Ellie as we could. Helen and Douglas House Hospice is based in Oxford. They specialise in care for young children and teenagers. Without this hospice for the last few weeks of Ellie’s life, we would not have been able to ensure she had the best final days. It is without doubt one of the most special places and cares for children who are like Ellie and either live with disability or are dying due to other sad conditions such as cancer or rare life threatening illnesses. Helen House opened in 1982 and was the world’s first children’s hospice. Helen and Douglas are 85% funded through donations and it costs 5 million pounds a year to provide 24 hour nursing care and family support, including on-going bereavement help.”