DEMELZA: Olympic stars open new Eltham hospice (From News Shopper)

DEMELZA: Olympic stars open new Eltham hospice

2:17pm Wednesday 24th June 2009

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A NEW hospice for seriously ill children has officially opened its doors after a two-year fundraising campaign.

The Eltham hospice, run by charity Demelza, has been admitting sick youngsters since February but had its official opening yesterday (June 23).

To mark the occasion, Olympic skating stars Robin Cousins and Jayne Torvill made a visit to the children already staying at the facility, in Wensley Close.

During a campaign supported by News Shopper more than £5m was raised to build the facility, which takes children from across south east London.

It will primarily take children for short breaks but also offers care for youngsters during their last days and bereavement counselling for their parents.

Children, whose illnesses mean they are unlikely to see adulthood, can be booked in for stays by their families or through doctors and consultants.

Demelza’s director of fundraising James Hanaway said: “The children get three meals a day and the parents don’t pay for a thing while they’re here - it does allow them to completely down tools.

“The majority of the hospice is about short breaks and it’s usually full of kids having fun, drawing pictures and enjoying life.”

The hospice has six bedrooms for children and also rooms for their families to stay in if needed.

It also includes a music room, sensory facilities, a computer room, day room and an art area.

But Demelza still needs extra money to keep the hospice running through its first year.

Mr Hanaway said: “The best thing about having it open is having children and families using it - but the aim now is keeping it going and unfortunately that takes money.”

For more information about the charity log onto demelzahouse.org

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