Launching St George’s Day: St George’s Chill-Out Challenges

Launching today – on St George’s Day – we are challenging our local community to help us make the final push to open the doors of a special ‘chill-out’ area in St George’s Hospital for Teenagers with cancer.

FACE has been supporting the development of a special unit in St Georges that will uplift the experiences of children and young adults while they are in hospital being treated for cancer, by creating a special zone for relaxation, communication, and enjoyment. Plans are advanced, but there remains a serious shortfall in funding:

We want to help St Georges Hospital fight Cancer, by combining the resources of Furzedown Community Network (FCN) and Furzedown Annual Charity Events (FACE) and demonstrate what a caring and brilliant community we live in. By uniting efforts from individuals, families, schools, organisations, and enterprises in and around Furzedown we can make such a difference and help make thiorganisations,s become a reality.

What’s YOUR Chill-out Challenge?

We’d love to hear from any schools, societies or local business running events, or from any individual who is planning a fundraising challenge, or could help organise a street party- you would be part of opening the doors to the St George’s Chill-out room this summer!

• by organising a fundraising event on behalf of FACE & St George’s
• by donating PRIZES
• by supporting us at local events such as our stall at the Furzedown Big Day Out on 18 June, our raffle, Garden Gig on 24 June and Quiz Night in October
• or with a personal cash donation

Last push to open the door…

Over the past four years, Furzedown’s fundraising group FACE have helped St George’s plan a much needed area for YOUNG PEOPLE WITH CANCER by raising over £14,000 – St Georges has chosen the room, Macmillans Cancer Charity is funding a specialist TYA nurse-advocate and with the help of Teenage Cancer Trust, the plans have been drawn up using specialist design agency Grosvener Designs – but there is still a short-fall in funds!

We are hoping local schools, businesses and individuals could help us finally open the doors this summer!

• by organising a fund raising events and sponsored challenges on behalf of FACE & St George’s
• by donating PRIZES 
• by supporting us at local events like the Furzedown Big Day Out on 18 June
• or with a personal cash donation

HERE’S WHY Young people with cancer need your help

Treatment for cancer can be a long traumatic process with lengthy in-patient stays and frequent outpatient visits to St Georges’ Hospital. The need was identified for an area where young people with cancer could meet, use their laptops to study or play games, watch TV and chill-out – an oasis away from the busy general wards and the crowded waiting areas of the main hospital and a base for a specialist nurse to provide support and therapeutic activities.  

“Having their own dedicated chill-out area can only have a positive affect on teenagers and young people’s recovery during their treatment stays and visits to St George’s Hospital”  St George’s consultant Mr Nicholas Hyde