THE CO-FOUNDER of a children’s hospice looks at how far the charity has come as it marks its 15th year anniversary today (April 26).
The Alexander Devine Children's Hospice Service, on Snowball Hill, Maidenhead, which supports children with life-limiting conditions and their families, was set up in 2007 in memory of Alexander Devine, who died from a brain tumour at eight-years-old.
Founders Fiona and John Devine, parents of Alexander, launched the charity to help other families through their own experiences.
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Fiona said: “Setting the charity up comes from a place of understanding how families feel, everyone's experience is unique to them but it gives you a good foundation on how to be sympathetic and empathetic towards the children and their families.
“There wasn’t enough resource when we were going through our journey with Alexander and so we wanted to create something that was accessible for these families and helping them through, for most of them, a very unexpected journey.”
Looking back at how far the hospice has come, Fiona said it’s been “quite an achievement”.
“Sometimes you do have to stop and remind yourself on the journey you’ve been on,” she said.
“It’s all about Alexander's legacy and what he stood for, he was a caring, forgiving and bright boy and that’s something we’re very proud of.
“It just doesn’t feel like 15 years, an awful lot has been achieved and sometimes I have to pinch myself to think how much we’ve done from setting up the community service and Alexander Devine nurses across Berkshire.”
Fiona explained the response she has had from people who have used the hospice has been “overwhelming”.
“So many families have said they don’t know what they would do without us, our nursing team are described as angels.
“For many of the children their journey is over many years and so this relationship we built up with our families is quite intimate, it’s over a long sustained period of time and it doesn’t end when they pass.”
“We continue to support the families through bereavement support through their loss.
“There will be many highs and lows and we’re here to provide the facilities that are inclusive of the whole family.”
Fiona thanked everyone who has supported the hospice since the beginning.
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She said “I must say a huge thank you to the paper as right from the get-go you’ve been very supportive, particularly Sally Stevens who used to work at the Observer, and then to absolutely everybody else who has helped us.
“A heartfelt thank you from me and everyone at Alexander Devine, the difference you’re making and continuing to make to the families is incredible and we are so grateful to you all.”
To mark the 15th birthday, the hospice is hosting a range of events across the year, including a ball in Windsor next month, a BBQ in June and a golf day.
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