February already! … but we’re delighted to have started 2024 with completion of the latest adaptations project from Sullivan’s Heroes – one of the biggest projects to date with a £60,000 target needed to be met – to create ‘A Space 4 Jakey’.
The comprehensive works, to build a ground floor extension to provide a fully accessible bedroom and bathroom to meet Jacob’s needs safely, involved converting half the garage and existing kitchen; together with building a downstairs utility room and bathroom; plus a sensory area and external ramping for access for 12-year-old Jakey.
As Jakey’s parents explain:
“The space we had was very narrow; we could not get his wheelchair near his bed to transfer him to and from his bed, we also did not have disabled access.”
Jakey’s parents tell us of the completed adaptations:
“All doors have been widened within our home and open space been created. Jakey is now able to access the downstairs and outside space easily. We are now able to all sit together as a family to watch TV and enjoy meals together.”
We also bring news of new applicants to the charity, the most recent of these being another large project with a £66,000 target to be raised above the Disabled Facilities Grant funding awarded for ‘Aurora's Big Build’.
The project involves building a downstairs bedroom and wetroom; a new porch and accessible driveway; making the garden accessible for Aurora, complete with home office building to allow parental care requirements for Aurora.
Aurora’s parents tell us:
“We are raising funds to help develop our house into a safe and long-term space for our four-year-old daughter Aurora, who was born with a rare genetic condition called Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome (PTHS). Life with Aurora is not straightforward and as she grows some of the physical and practical challenges grow too, but we look forward in faith believing the best is yet to come for her.”
“‘Aurora’s Big Build’ is to fully adapt our home into a place where Aurora can safely live and remain in our care for all of her life. Aurora is teaching us things we didn't even know we needed to learn. The value of eye contact; silence; smiles and gratitude. Aurora's name means 'dawn' – she is a light that keeps on rising – and we look forward to the day where that light shines brighter than we could ever imagine.”
Various projects have now got underway with their building works in the first weeks of the year, whilst the families continue fundraising towards their final targets – namely ‘Oliver’s forever home’, ‘Myk’s accessible home project’ and ‘An accessible home for David’.
‘Ahmed’s Big Build’ is progressing well through their schedule of building works, which recently received support from Independence at Home, towards drainage costs for the new extension works at Ahmed’s home.
Funding has also been gratefully received recently from Hospital Saturday Fund towards ‘Funding For Musa’s New Room with Adaptations’ – to build a ground floor bedroom extension with level access shower and ceiling track hoists, space for a specialised hospital bed to meet Musa’s needs; plus safe wheelchair access via a ramp into Musa’s home.
We end with news of two pledges of support for the course of 2024, from companies kindly selecting Sullivan’s Heroes as their charity of choice for their annual fundraising.
Employees at Arco Clothing Centre Preston will be supporting us throughout this year with various fundraising events planned. Their funds will be directed towards ‘Filip’s journey to come back home’ – in support of their former work colleague, Filip’s mother Oliwia, and her family.
Meanwhile, the teams at both Amber Living and Grumitt Wade Mason will be taking on 
a monumental ‘Cycle to the North Pole’ fundraising challenge on Sullivan’s Heroes’ behalf.
Our thanks to these companies for their generous support – and if you’d like to join 'Our Heroes' by nominating Sullivan’s Heroes as your ‘Charity of the Year’ to fund home adaptations for disabled children, please contact us to discuss further.
Please do get in touch if you have any fundraising events, activities and ideas you’d like to share with us; or if you would like to apply for a grant or to fundraise through Sullivan’s Heroes.
Thank you for your ongoing support, it is greatly appreciated.
