Charity partnership set to benefit Tŷ Hafan children’s hospice

Welcome news for Tŷ Hafan today as a brand new partnership launches between supermarket giant, Morrisons and charity, Together for Short Lives that will benefit families caring for a seriously ill child in Wales.

Together for Short Lives is the only charity supporting the UK’s children’s hospices, including Tŷ Hafan, based in Sully, near Cardiff, and families facing the heartbreak that their child may die at a young age.

Together for Short Lives and Morrisons are set to raise vital funds for children’s hospices, including Tŷ Hafan, across the UK as part of a flagship three-year-partnership launching on 15 February 2022.

Maria Timon Samra, Chief Executive of Tŷ Hafan, said: “Every year our charity provides vital care and support for almost three hundred children with life-limiting conditions, and their families, at our hospice in Sully and in the children’s own homes and communities across Wales. Our family-centred support is described as a lifeline by these families.

“As an independent charity, with 90% of our funding donated by the incredibly generous Welsh public, this fantastic partnership between Morrisons, Together for Short Lives and Tŷ Hafan is a very exciting and valuable initiative for us.

“It costs us £4.5m a year to provide our care services alone, so this partnership will help us not only to fundraise, but also to share stories about the unfairly difficult lives of the children and families we support, and, to explain the difference Tŷ Hafan’s support, enabled by partnerships like this, makes, and the positive impact it has on some of the most vulnerable children in Wales.”

Morrisons will help Tŷ Hafan to be there for families like Susan and Marshall, from Bridgend, who have been supported by Tŷ Hafan for 12 years.

Marshall, now aged 13, was diagnosed with the ultra-rare San Fillipo Syndrome when he was just six months old and mum Susan was then told that her baby son, who until that point, had appeared to be developing normally, was unlikely to live past his teenage years.

“Tŷ Hafan is like a lifeline to us,” says Susan, 35. “We’ve had a few crisis visits – times when Marshall has been awake for days on end. Then he will just scream constantly. When he goes to Tŷ Hafan, both Marshall and I can have a break, as can Tyler, Marshall’s 16-year-old brother, and I know that Marshall is being well looked after.

“Tŷ Hafan is a fantastic place that provides children with seriously life-limiting conditions, somewhere to enjoy their time.

“Marshall loves it at Tŷ Hafan. He is always happy there. He loves the people. He loves the change in environment. He enjoys activities now, but he does fall asleep a lot. He tires out quite quickly.

“Tŷ Hafan also provides families with a lot of support – they may crumble without it.

“I think it’s important that people do support Tŷ Hafan because is a charity and without that support there wouldn’t be a service available to all the families that come here. They would be left alone. There’s not a lot of support out there in the community,” adds Susan. “Tŷ Hafan is a lifeline. People need it. I can’t imagine what it would be like without Tŷ Hafan in our lives.”

Together for Short Lives CEO, Andy Fletcher says: “Hearing the news that your child is seriously ill is devastating – families can be left feeling scared and alone. I can’t tell you what a difference this amazing new partnership will make for these families. Knowing that Morrisons’ colleagues up and down the country are on their side, means the absolute world. 

“The money raised through our partnership will give families access to vital care from local children’s hospices and help them to spend less time worrying and more time making memories together. It will also enable us to reach thousands more families caring for a seriously ill child who need support.”

Every Morrisons store is calling on local shoppers to join them for their special ‘Butterfly Bonanza’ between 14-27 February – a fabulous fortnight of fundraising activities to mark the launch of the partnership, as the charity’s famous butterfly flies up and down the country in support of seriously ill children.

Morrisons CEO, David Potts says: “Together for Short Lives is an amazing charity which supports families through immensely difficult times, and hearing the very important stories from families who have received their support was incredibly moving for everyone at Morrisons. I’m really looking forward to our partnership with Together for Short Lives and helping to raise vital funds to support families with seriously ill children and the wonderful hospices that care for them.”