Christmas Charity Letter

As with previous years, Lines & James are continuing with their custom of not sending Christmas Cards, instead opting to donate the money to two local charities.

This year the charities we have decided to support are:

Chestnut Tree House - www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk

Whilst many may associate the word ‘hospice’ with sadness and grief, Chestnut Tree House - the only Children’s Hospice in Sussex - is a place of fun, happiness and most of all a place for living. Specialising in palliative care for children and young people suffering from life-limiting and life threatening illnesses, the skilled nurses and care support workers provide care at the hospice or in the home which is extended to the whole family, including psychological support, care in bereavement therapy, end of life and respite care and sibling support.

In a ‘home-from home’ environment with 10 children's bedrooms plus 8 family rooms and a wide range of facilities including a hydrotherapy pool, multi-sensory room, music and computer rooms, the hospice provides a buzzing environment full of laughter. Families are not charged for their care, yet the hospice costs over £2 million per year to run. Due to lack of government funding, Chestnut Tree House relies almost entirely on the generosity, help and support of the people of Sussex. Sadly it cannot reach all the children and families that need them, hopefully with donations like ours, they can continue to raise awareness of their services and increase the vital funds that are so needed to keep their doors open.

Radio Redhill - www.radioredhill.co.uk

As most of you will know, Pat's son Sammy, helped to ‘man’ the office this summer in between returning from his successful backpacking trip in Asia and before his university days started. During this time Sammy also spent some time volunteering as a broadcaster at Radio Redhill and thoroughly enjoyed it. Radio Redhill was founded in 1974 and broadcasts to the patients of East Surrey Hospital. The station has made a point of broadcasting patient’s requests every day of the week and now 35 years on, and over 220,000 requests later it still goes strong.

Radio Redhill membership currently stands at around seventy volunteers of all ages and of all walks of life but with one common purpose - a commitment to provide a sense to its hospital listeners that no other station, however local, can offer. The station relies totally on fundraising and therefore we have decided to choose them as one of our Christmas charities this year.

ALL THE STAFF AT LINES & JAMES WISH YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS 2012.

Pat, Louise, Linda, Jane, Lucy & Abie

See the original PDF letter here