Letter from Duncan Bannatyne (From This Is Wiltshire)

Letter from Duncan Bannatyne

3:55pm Friday 30th July 2010 in

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I AM writing to ask your readers to consider joining me in making a donation to WellChild for their Reach Out for Sick Children Nurse Appeal.

WellChild, the national charity for sick children, is building up a network of Children’s Nurses throughout the UK who care for seriously ill children and their families and get children with complex conditions out of hospital wards so they can be cared for at home.

Having looked at the way in which WellChild fund their team of nurses, and the fact that the funding ensures a long-term resource for families with seriously ill children in each region, it really made sense for me to invest. I would urge as many people as possible to join me in investing in the future of these children and young people.

The overwhelming evidence shows that most children and their families benefit from being in hospital for the shortest possible time. Sometimes hospital stays are essential – but not always. The value of WellChild Children’s Nurses is that they allow children and young people to leave hospital earlier AND make sure they have everything they need to be cared for at home. That way, the emotional, practical and financial problems which can be caused for both the child and the family by long stays in hospital are limited.

WellChild’s eventual aim is that every child in the UK who needs the help of one of their nurses gets it. I was so impressed by the scheme that I agreed to personally fund a WellChild Nurse who is now at work helping children and their families who really need her.

It would be fantastic if you too felt able to make a donation to this very worthwhile cause. £22 pays for a nurse for one hour, £175 pays for a nurse for a day. You can donate to Reach Out for Sick Children on the appeal website www.wellchildnurseappeal.org by sending a cheque to WellChild, 16 Royal Crescent, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 3DA or by phone on 0845 458 8171.

DUNCAN BANNATYNE WellChild Ambassador WellChild 16 Royal Crescent Cheltenham Gloucestershire