Photo:A young supporter runs a fund-raising sponsored “hand print” wall at Rainbows open day.
Regular readers will know I’ve been mulling over ways to use my gardening skills to raise money for Rainbows, our local children’s hospice. And I’ve come up with a plan. I’m giving slide shows and talks to local garden groups. And I’ve asked some of my garden design customers to open their gardens for afternoon teas and guided tours – with all proceeds going to the hospice. Within a week of announcing my plans, I’ve got two talks booked, and one open garden. Times, dates and further details to follow! It’s a start!
Rainbows recently held their annual open day. Hundreds of people turned up to support the charity, and I joined them on a tour of the facilities. With Rainbows’ permission, I’m sharing photos here, to show you why I’ve decided to raise money for this amazing charity. The hydrotherapy pool, above, is used by children, their siblings and families. The key message I learned on my first visit is that Rainbows is a place to have fun. All members of the family are welcome. Aunts, uncles, grandparents, brothers and sisters come to the centre to spend time with poorly children. They all benefit from specialist care and support so they can spend precious time together- and make memories.
A key part of Rainbows’ work is symptom control and pain relief. This helps children enjoy and make the most of the time they have left. Rainbows provides a wide range of therapies and there are a number of dedicated rooms to help relieve pain and improve comfort. The multi-sensory room, has interactive light tubes, floor pads, and fibre optic features.
For children in wheelchairs, there’s a chance to take part in a cycle ride with this specially adapted bike.
Young people have their own rooms where they can chill out, use computers, watch tv, do some cooking or use a sewing machine with specially adapted equipment and aids.
No matter how small a movement a child is able to make, there’s a special piece of equipment or an instrument which will allow them to make music. Music therapy is accessible to all. Again the emphasis is on having fun, building memories for families, and enabling children to express themselves and relieve frustration.
The rainbows garden is a place for fun and games for children- and for peace and quiet and contemplation for parents, relatives and staff. I would be really pleased if some of the money I raise goes towards maintaining and developing the garden.
Rainbows provides respite, palliative and end of life care for babies, children, teenagers and young people who have life-shortening conditions. It’s every parent’s worst nightmare to be told their child will die before them. But for the families who come to rainbows, and an estimated 20,000 families across the uk each year, this is a reality.
I have pledged to do all I can to support the work of this amazing hospice.
Wherever I went within the hospice and surrounding gardens, I found a positive attitude -and plenty of smiles. The staff are fabulous and deserve all the help we can give them. Overwhelmingly there’s a message of love and hope.
I found this sunflower in the Hospice garden. I think it sums up the sunshine spread though their fantastic work.
I’ve never launched a fund-raising campaign before- and I’m not sure how good I will be at it. But I believe every little helps. Just by reading this blog you have helped. You can spread the message about Rainbows and help to raise their profile even further.
I still panic at the sight of an audience. I am terribly shy at heart, and quietly spoken. I shall need a loud microphone and plenty of Bach Flower remedies to calm my nerves. Wish me luck!
Read more about the hospice at www.rainbows.co.uk
@rainbowshospice on twitter and instagram
@rainbowsfanpage on Facebook
Bramble Garden 
The hospice movement is a wonderful cause to support, it is all the better for being a charity rather than government run. I started giving gardening slide shows a few years ago, it does get easier with practice. Rescue remedy and deep breaths all help to calm the nerves. I think there is a tendency to speak to quickly to start with, due to nerves I expect. Practice with the technology at home so that you are familiar with setting up and timing of talk. Max one hour!👏
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Thank you Brian. That is really useful advice. As I’ve never done it before, I am feeling quite nervous and wanting to give “value for money” so to speak. I must try to speak slowly. I’ll certainly practice in advance. I might need to buy my own projector, rather than rely on the ones at the village halls. Can you advise on which to buy? Thanks again. All the best. Karen
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Hi Karen, I have only been to one venue with its own projector. When I purchased mine they were relatively new. I took advice from a company who supplied education establishments. I purchased a NEC VT47, which at the time cost £650. There is much more choice now with the development of home cinema. As with all things in life you get what you pay for. You need one that is compatible with a PC and PowerPoint and Apple Keynote. I think you can now buy one that works from just a memory stick. One reason they advised me on mine was due to its ability to show good pictures in semi light conditions, i.e. A sunny afternoon in a hall even with curtains drawn. I would talk to anyone who has one. If you have any connections, it would be worth visiting a school or collage for advice. Our local primary school recently sold there older models for £40,when they updated.
I hope that is useful if I can be of anymore help you can email me. skeysbrian@gmail.com
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Thank you Brian. That’s really useful advice. One of the village groups just asked me to bring a memory stick with all the photos on. But I think I’d feel happier using my own equipment. All the best. Karen
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Karen has a heart of gold. Go ahead with fundraising for Rainbows because I’ve never seen such a beautiful hospice and you need it. Do not be afraid: it is stronger than you think. Your voice will come out loud and clear and will speak effortlessly if you think of the children of Rainbows and what they do for them. You know that I live in Spain: if I lived in the United Kingdom I would go to see her in her locution. Luck, good luck though Karen does not need it. Memories to his Mother. Greetings from Margarita :).
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Thank you so much Margarita. I will always think of your kind words whenever I falter. It’s amazing what we can achieve when we step outside of our comfort zones.
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Thank you for your kind comments and for wishing me luck. Also greetings from Karen – and Mum – who is getting ready to make lots of cakes for our fund raising events 🙂 xxx
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You’re going to be brilliant (well, you already are but you know what I mean!), such a good cause! Xx
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Thank you Andrew. That’s really lovely to you to say so. Thanks for reading and for getting in touch 🙂 xx
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Great facilities. There can’t be very many children’s hospices like this one. I hope you go from strength to strength.
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Thank you very much. That’s what I thought. So worth supporting. I hope so too. Thanks for reading 🙂 x
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Thank you for such a heart warming post. Wishing you many more charity bookings. 🌼
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Thank you so much. Fingers crossed 🙂 xx
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Good for you and well done. I admire anyone who is a donor and supporter of such a worthy cause and especially those, like you, who do so much more to help.
I agree with Cathy and Gill and I’m sure you’ll be fine, xx
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Thank you Mike. I feel like I’ve got a back-up team on here :)) xx
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I agree with all of you, Flighty! this is terrific, Karen 🙂
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What a lovely way for me to start my Sunday, by reading about this wonderful place and your plans to help them. I am sure you will be brilliant, remember you don’t need to be shout to be heard. xxx
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Thank you Gill.thats made my day. I’m quite terrified- but determined to have a go. That last photo was taken last week- for a radio recording. It was just like being on Mastermind with those spotlights. I think I spent half the programme in a panic!
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When you have done it you will feel great, head down, remember it is only an hour of your life to get through and enjoy it!
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Thank you Gill. I’ll remember that. xx
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What a wonderful place, Kare, and such a worthy cause. Well done for your determination to overcome your natural reticence and begin fundraising. As well as raising valuable funds you will building your own inner strength, a win-win situation all round
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Thank you Cathy. I hadn’t thought about that aspect. But you are right. Inner strength is a good thing indeed 🙂 xx
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It is indeed
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Wonderful! Wishing you success!
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Thank you very much Audrey 🙂 x
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