We’re delighted to start this new year with celebrations of the latest completed project from Sullivan’s Heroes, for 3-year-old Jude.
The project to create ‘Home adaptations for Jude’ saw Jude and his family needing to raise £50,000 above the Disabled Facilities Grant awarded for the works – to extend the family house to create a downstairs bedroom and bathroom to enable Jude to be properly cared for at home.
Jude’s Mum explains:
“As Jude grows, it becomes increasingly difficult to carry him up and down the stairs and to lift him in and out of the bath. He cannot support his body weight in any way and is entirely dependent on others for all his moving and handling. Constantly having to lift and carry him was causing back problems for myself and was dangerous for his professional carers.”
“The adaptations have made such a huge difference to our family life and for Jude. He can be cared for so much more easily in a wonderful, light and modern environment. Our whole family has felt a lift in our mental health since moving back into our adapted home. We finally feel that Jude fits in our house now that we have something that was made for him. He belongs in the new rooms and spaces. It has massively helped us accept our path together with Jude.”
We also bring news of projects that got underway as 2022 commenced. Building works for ‘Keira’s BIG Build’ have recently begun, with the project receiving support from local Rotary Club of Dunfermline to boost the £65,000 target still being fundraised towards.
Meanwhile ‘Building Thomas a Future in Bromley Cross’ has also seen works commence – whilst benefitting from support towards the final amounts required from Provincial Walsh Trust for Bolton and The Grand Order Of Lady Ratlings’ Cup of Kindness, where Thomas and his Dad Ian also made a guest appearance at their fundraising ‘Hi-De-Hi Reunion’ to say thank you to all involved.
‘Courageous Cory’s Big Build’ nears completion with support from The Heydown Trust, as does ‘Sophie’s Independence’ with recent help from The Annabelle Rose Foundation Foundation and Glasspool Charity Trust.
Fundraising for a ‘Downstairs bedroom and wet room for Rez’ is nearing the £10,300 target with the recent aid of local Ipswich Round Table and Rotary Club of Ipswich.
Whilst ‘Iman’s home adaptation’ received funds from Florence Nightingale Aid in Sickness Trust towards a Bidet Toilet to aid Iman’s independence, and ‘Mylo’s new downstairs bedroom’ target was boosted with donations after featuring in local press articles, together with support from Natwest and RBS who Match Funded its employees fundraising activities.
We’re not short on news of new applicants either – with two of the most recent being Georgia and Nathan.
Georgia’s family have made a flying start with ‘Funding for Georgia’s bedroom and bathroom’ – with 28% raised in just one month towards their £30,000 target required above the Disabled Facilities awarded.
Georgia’s Mum tells us:
“Georgia is unable to walk, talk, or live independently and requires 24-hour care. She has severe epilepsy, breathing irregularities and sensory disorder. Due to her difficult and frequent epilepsy Georgia needs a quiet space away from our busy family life when she’s recovering from seizures and access to her bed on the ground floor multiple times throughout the day. She is desperate for a ground floor bathroom with suitable bath so that she can bathe in safety. Having a bath is one of the few activities Georgia can still enjoy.”
Meanwhile fundraising is also off to a cracking pace to create ‘A Haven for Nathan’. The project to extend the home on two storeys to provide safe bedroom, bathroom and living space for 10-year-old Nathan requires £50,000 to meet the shortfall of the costs.
Nathan’s parents advise:
“Nathan was born with Edwards Syndrome and Jacobsen Syndrome – an incredibly rare combination of 2 genetic disorders that cause multiple medical and developmental issues. The doctors told us that he had a heart condition and he would likely not live for more than 2 weeks. However, Nathan defied the doctors and survived due to the lifesaving heart surgery he was given at 1 week old and again at 4 months old. Since then, NayNay (as he is affectionately known by those who know and love him) has overcome more months in hospital and more surgeries than we can count, and has shown, every step of the way, that he writes his own story. He is non-verbal but uses other ways to communicate; he can’t walk but that doesn’t stop him from getting to where he wants to go. Anyone who meets NayNay cannot help but fall in love with him.”
We look forward to updating you with news of these, and other projects we’re supporting, as 2022 unfolds.
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.
