Transforming Lives Through Movement

Childhood should be a time of discovery and joy, yet for children with serious illnesses, life is often consumed by medical appointments, hospital stays, and the emotional toll of their conditions.

These children are three times more likely to face mental health challenges, grappling with anxiety, depression, and trauma from relentless pain, isolation, and fear in unfamiliar hospital environments.

Their struggles extend beyond their illnesses, encompassing disrupted routines, reduced physical activity, visible changes like hair loss, and uncertainty about the future all of which compound the risk of long-term mental health issues. Despite these challenges, opportunities for activities that promote mental well-being are scarce.

To address this gap, The Murray Parish Trust, in partnership with Synergy Dance Outreach, is launching a year-long programme in Summer 2025 to bring tailored dance and yoga sessions to children at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and Evelina London Children’s Hospital.

With a £70,000 fundraising goal, the programme will offer accessible, inclusive activities both in-person and via remote access to uplift and inspire these children.

Targeting high-intensity hospital settings, it will reach children in intensive care, cancer, and mental health wards, providing vital enrichment for those with complex conditions like Epidermolysis Bullosa. Scientific evidence highlights the profound benefits of dance and yoga in boosting mood, building resilience, and creating positive memories.

This transformative initiative seeks to bring joy and strength to some of the UK’s most vulnerable children, offering hope and a brighter future even in their darkest moments.

I hope you can support us. Thank you