I am skydiving for Claire House Children's Hospice in 2021 because of the amazing support they provided to my family.

Our little boy Benjamin Joseph Buckley passed away in January 2020 just before he turned 6 months old. Our journey with Claire House started from our 20 week scan, where a dark area was noted in Benjamin's brain. Claire House were with us from that point forward.

They attended medical appointments and scans with us providing both emotional and professional support. Information we were told was often complicated and upsetting, they helped talk through in layman's terms and offered assistance where they could. Often simple things to us made a big difference, for instance they arranged for us to visit neonatal care prior to Benjamin's birth as we knew this would be where he would be taken should he survive delivery. For anyone who has found themselves unexpectedly in neonatal, it is an overwhelming place with lots of machines and equipment. Seeing it beforehand meant we knew not to be alarmed.  They were even there for his birth to allow me to go with Benjamin without feeling I was leaving Lindsey on her own in the operating theatre.

From birth we were in and out of hospital with Benjamin...largely more in than out to be fair.  He had multiple operations during this time and we found ourselves in various departments including a period on a ventilator in ICU, an exceptionally difficult time. As always Claire House were there, checking in on Benjamin but also us as parents.

Following a routine scan in November 2019 we were called in the following day to be told that a brain tumour had been identified. Further tests and consultant meetings confirmed the tumour to be aggressive and with limited chance of cure - almost 0%. Having already spent a large proportion of his life in theatres and knowing the aggressive nature of cancer drugs with no chance of a successful outcome we took the very difficult decision to halt any further treatment and enjoy the remaining time we would have with him.

We moved into Claire House who provided palliative care for Benjamin and emotional support to us.  We were there just over 6 weeks making just being mum and dad and memories at the hospice and that we did! He visited the lanterns at Chester Zoo, went golfing, had his first swim, took a shine to reflexology and had his first Christmas Dinner to name but a few.

Benjamin passed away in January 2020. It was peaceful and respectful and for that we will always be forever grateful to Clare House.  We were moved to the butterfly suite to say out final goodbyes. Wherever they could they helped lift the burden in this difficult time, from making contact with funeral directors, registering the death to making sure we ate.

Their support did not stop following his passing with a wide range of bereavement support offered.

This gives just a snapshot of what Claire House has done for my family and continues to do for others. They are primarily funded through charitable donations and as such it is imperative that funding is received to allow them to continue to do the fantastic work that they do. I really do not know what we would have done without them.