CHAR I TY F EATURE WELLCHILD
For the second year, WellChild, the national charity for seriously ill children, is our charity partner for The Festival™ and we are hoping the racing community will again show its amazing support for this vital cause The Festival SUPPORTING
T he fantastic support of The Jockey Club and the racing community is making a real difference to the workWellChild does for complex needs children and their families all across the UK. WellChild helps families like Gloucestershire based, Roxanne, Darrell and their children, including three-year-old son, Kobie. Shortly after Kobie was born, routine tests showed abnormalities and he also started struggling to feed. Many health professionals tried to diagnose him without success. Kobie is what’s known as a swan child – a child who has a syndrome without a name. Kobie was kept in hospital but caught bronchiolitis and started struggling to breathe. It was a frightening time for the family as he was intubated and transferred to Bristol Children’s Hospital Paediatric Intensive Care Unit. Dad, Darrell, was driving back and forth every day to visit as well as looking after their other three children. The family were put in touch with Gloucestershire’s WellChild Nurse, Nina. She helped the family in many ways, including coordinating as many as 15 hospital appointments in one week, and all the health professionals involved with Kobie’s care. Kobie’s dad
Darrell, said: “Nina came at a time we needed her to take the pressure off us. I can’t thank her enough. Nina is just a light that shined when we were in the dark.” Kobie’s complex requirements mean his parents must make difficult decisions that often lead to disappointment for the family. The Covid-19 pandemic made it more difficult for Kobie’s family to do things together, with family visits and holidays cancelled. Families caring for a child with serious health needs can often feel isolated and alone. TheWellChild Family Tree connects families from across the UK for mutual advice, support and friendship. This is where Kobie’s parents heard about Giddy Up for Good organised by WellChild, The Jockey Club and Cotswold Riding for the Disabled. The Giddy Up for Good event in the summer was the first time that Kobie and his three sisters had been able to take part in an activity together. The impact of The Jockey Club andWellChild partnership has been enormous, with funds raised supporting the continuation and development of the vital Family Tree network and online information and support, throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond.
12 THE F E S T I VAL TM PREV I EW MAGAZ I NE
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