Helen & Douglas House help families cope with the challenges of looking after a terminally ill baby or child, who will die prematurely.

The hospice - located in Oxford and the first children’s hospice in the world - provides care in a homely, warm, loving environment. It is a peaceful and surprisingly happy place where families can create memories in their last days, weeks, months or years together. It is also a place that allows children to continue to experience the magic of childhood for as long as possible.

There can be no greater tragedy than the death of a child. I cannot begin to comprehend how families deal with such seismic trauma, nor how those working to support the child and their families shoulder it vicariously day after day, year after year, and still provide such a high level of care and a positive environment.

When I was approached to take part in this fundraising event for Helen & Douglas House, it was impossible for me to refuse. The staff at the hospice are quite frankly superheroes, and the work they do is invaluable.

So… I have agreed to be locked up for a whole day with 9 other people, in a small cell at Oxford’s castle jail on 11 October. To be set free at 4pm, I have to raise my bail of £999 donations.

You can donate any time, starting now and I’ll still have to do my time in the clink. It might not seem like much of a challenge but as a bit of a claustraphobe and easily spooked, I’m increasingly uneasy about the prospect!

Please help me to provide vitally needed funds to support the ongoing work of the hospice.They need to raise a whopping £4m annually to keep doing the incredible work that they do.

No donation is too small and every pound counts.

Thank you in advance for any donation you can give.

Laura

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