Face of bedz appeal from Warminster takes Center stage (From This Is Wiltshire)

Face of bedz appeal from Warminster takes Center stage

8:00pm Saturday 28th August 2010 in

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An 11-year-old girl from Warminster, who had pioneering surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital, was getting into her role as the face of a campaign to raise £100,000 for the hospital when she visited Center Parcs at the weekend.

Chloe Doble, who has a twin sister, Jessica, was born with heart complications, one ear and an asymmetric jaw due to a condition called Goldenhar Syndrome.

The girl, who lives with sister and parents Alun, 38, and Sharon, 42, in West Parade, has had seven operations during her short life, two of which were undertaken at Great Ormond Street to construct a new ear.

Chloe is the face of Centre Parc’s Beds for Bedz campaign, which aims to keep families together by providing accommodation for parents while their children are undergoing treatment.

The family spent Friday enjoying activities at the attraction as Chloe gets ready to front the fundraising campaign.

Dad Alun said: “Chloe was chuffed when she found out. She normally takes everything in her stride, not a lot phases her, but she’s really excited about this.”

Chloe’s mum believes parents will benefit greatly from the campaign to build new accommodation at the London hospital.

The 42-year-old, who used to work for Centre Parcs and now works with people with learning disabilities in Warminster, said: “We were on the Peter Pan Ward. We were lucky because we had our own room there.

“I had a pull down bed from the wall which wasn’t the most comfortable of beds, but at least I was with Chloe.

“It would have been nice for me to have a separate room because the nurses are doing their observations throughout the night.

“They are a wonderful team there, but it would be nice for parents to have a room to chill out. I was there for ten days and that’s a long time in a small room.”

The family took part in a number of activities at the complex on Friday, including exboarding, mini golf, 10-pin bowling and swimming.

Mrs Doble added: “The girls were up and down the rapids all afternoon and me and hubby sat in the jacuzzi. We were all shattered by the time we got home.”

Center Parcs will be supporting Beds for Bedz by inviting guests to make a donation when booking their holiday.

The holiday company will match the amount.

Center Parcs’ chief executive officer Martin Dalby said: “We are absolutely delighted to offer our support to the Beds for Bedz campaign.

“The Center Parcs experience is about families spending time together, so when we heard about an opportunity to help Great Ormond Street Hospital keep families together during the most stressful times, it made perfect sense for us to get involved.”

For more details about Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital and the campaign, visit the website www.gosh.org.