Thanks for visiting our fundraising page for The Sick Children's Trust.

Craig Harrod: 

Cathy and I with our three beautiful children were a normal healthy and happy family.  None of our children had ever been seriously ill and we could count on one hand the amount of times they had had to visit a GP.

Finnian (Finn) was born at home very quickly on a sunny day in May 2007 and was a normal happy baby.  Everything  was perfect until unexpectedly in December the same year at age 7 months, Finn became sick and rapidly became very ill.  After a few hours at our local hospital we were transferred 70 miles away to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Hospital as he needed surgery.

The last thing on our minds at that time was accomodation, clothes, food or travel arrangements but after the first day when for a short time we believed Finn may get better we had to turn our attention to the practicalities of a base mainly somewhere for our girls to come and stay so we could be together as a family.

We were directed to Crawford House and overwhelmed by the staff's kindness, energy and facilities available and the efficiency of how the house ran.  We felt that the huge burden of being away from home was lifted and we could concentrate fully on Finn and helping him get better.

Unfortunately our stay was brief as Finn had to be transferred to Newcastle General Hospital where he sadly died on the 14th December 2007.  Our world was turned upside down.  How things can change in a matter of days.  The unimaginable was now a reality.

During the two days Finn was critically ill it felt like weeks.  Our emotions were all over the place one minute hope the next despair, disbelief and terror.  Looking back at this time people and places stand out, Crawford House was one of these as it was for a short time a haven for us.

If things had been different for us, Crawford House would have allowed us to fully care for Finn whilst he was in Hospital and still keep things as normal as possible for our young girls, Tiegan and Darcey.  The hardest thing for any parent to do is try and divide their time and attention between children and this is more so when one child is sick.  To have the facilities at Crawford House means that parents can be with their sick children but still have comfortable, safe and homely surroundings that makes a huge difference to the rest of the family.

I am running the London Marathon in memory of my beautiful baby son Finn and would like you to donate to The Sick Children's Trust to help people who find themselves in a similar position to what we were placed in.

Ian Tomlinson:

What more can I say?  I will be running the marathon in loving memory of Finn, and in support of my great friends, Craig and Cathy.

I hope that, in some small way, any money we raise could help The Sick Children's Trust to support other families in the same unimaginable circumstances, just as they did during Craig and Cathy's time of need.

The Sick Children's Trust  http://www.sickchildrenstrust.org/ provides similar homes across the UK .  For further information on the homes facilities please see: http://www.sickchildrenstrust.org/documents/CrawfordHouseforwebsite_002.pdf

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor us: The Sick Children's Trust gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

So please sponsor us now!

Offline Donations recieved so far:

Julia Garcia, Lindsay Carruthers, Judith Winder, Helen Winder,  Peter Johnston, Dawn Whitfield, Anthony Whitfield, Vicky Reay, Tracey Warren, Staff on SCBU and Children's Ward - Cumberland infirmary, Kate and Paul Kingsford-Bere, Dorothea and Philip.