Julia Woodcock
Julia and Ben's Sahara Desert Trek 2022
Fundraising for Helen & Douglas House
Story
So, after about 3 postponements and a late Covid bout (which we’re still hoping Ben will get the all-clear on tomorrow!) on 25 March 2022 Ben and I, along with 9 others will be taking on a huge challenge - a trek across part of the Sahara Desert in temperatures that could soar up to 40 degrees! We will be trekking for between 5-8 hours per day, covering approximately 15-20km per day.
So why are we putting ourselves through it?
In 2018 I started working for Helen & Douglas House, an Oxford-based children's hospice providing respite for children with life shortening conditions and end of life care for terminally children and babies. Since then, I have been blown away by seeing the care provided by our incredible care team and support workers - not just for the children, but for their whole families.
Despite the sad circumstances, Helen House manages to be a place of lightness and laughter - a place to create happy memories and allow families to enjoy special times together; a place where parents can be parents rather than being carers.
I have loved meeting some of the wonderful children and families we support. I have also been inspired and humbled by the bereaved parents I have met, who explained the vital support they received at the hospice, while facing the unthinkable, and who have gone on to continue fundraising for us so that other families can receive the same support in future.
As parents of 2 young children, one of whom has an extremely rare genetic condition, we don't know how we would cope should the unthinkable happen to one of them, but feel fortunate that somewhere like Helen & Douglas House is on our doorstep, should we find ourselves in that unthinkable situation.
And yet, only a small percentage of our funding comes from the government. So the hospice has to find £3.6 million every year to keep providing its services.
This is why we're doing it - please can you support us. Any money donated will be making a difference.
Two of my fellow desert trekkers have used the hospice services themselves when their children passed away so I will be reminded every day of why I’m there and who I’m doing it for.
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
So why are we putting ourselves through it?
In 2018 I started working for Helen & Douglas House, an Oxford-based children's hospice providing respite for children with life shortening conditions and end of life care for terminally children and babies. Since then, I have been blown away by seeing the care provided by our incredible care team and support workers - not just for the children, but for their whole families.
Despite the sad circumstances, Helen House manages to be a place of lightness and laughter - a place to create happy memories and allow families to enjoy special times together; a place where parents can be parents rather than being carers.
I have loved meeting some of the wonderful children and families we support. I have also been inspired and humbled by the bereaved parents I have met, who explained the vital support they received at the hospice, while facing the unthinkable, and who have gone on to continue fundraising for us so that other families can receive the same support in future.
As parents of 2 young children, one of whom has an extremely rare genetic condition, we don't know how we would cope should the unthinkable happen to one of them, but feel fortunate that somewhere like Helen & Douglas House is on our doorstep, should we find ourselves in that unthinkable situation.
And yet, only a small percentage of our funding comes from the government. So the hospice has to find £3.6 million every year to keep providing its services.
This is why we're doing it - please can you support us. Any money donated will be making a difference.
Two of my fellow desert trekkers have used the hospice services themselves when their children passed away so I will be reminded every day of why I’m there and who I’m doing it for.
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.