Winter appeal update: Esme’s story

A huge thank you to everybody who so kindly donated to our Winter appeal, to help offer a Home from Home to families with a child in hospital over the festive season.

The appeal featured Esme, who was just three when she was diagnosed with cancer. Two and a half years on, Esme is stable and, as her mum Anne explains, living life to the full.

“Esme has a real positivity about her. It feels like she grabs the bull by the horns and goes for it.

“Esme loves swimming and has just gone horse riding for the first time. She also does ballet and has just given her first performance. She came on with her group and absolutely loved it; there were no nerves, she just got on stage and did her thing and did really well.

“She will tell people what she’s been through, but in day-to-day interactions, she leads a full life, lived well.”

Looking back, Anne and her husband Ben are incredibly grateful to Young Lives vs Cancer supporters for ensuring they could stay in a Home from Home close to Esme’s hospital over the festive season. Instead of countless hours travelling, they could concentrate on giving Esme and her sister Olivia the best possible Christmas, spending time together as a family.

“Staying in the Home from Home meant Esme could enjoy Christmas like other little girls. We got the girls mini-trees and baubles to decorate their room, and they made paperchains and rice crispy cakes together.”

On average, families face an 80-mile round trip to and from cancer treatment, so a Home from Home can be a lifeline, freeing parents and guardians from constant worry about the time and extra expense spent travelling. That’s why we’re incredibly grateful to everybody who helps families like Esme’s stay in a Home from Home.

Find out more about our Homes from Home

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£60 will give a family a free place to stay in one of our Homes from Home for a night.

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Author: lizzie.wrobel

Posted on Wednesday 15 January 2025

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