How we help

The Charity works hard to make a difficult time easier for patients and their families at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

We help by focusing on three areas to support:

Treatment
Technological and medical advances allow us to continue to improve the quality of care we can provide for sick children. With your support we will be able to provide the hospital with leading state-of-the-art equipment so that our exceptional doctors and nurses can improve diagnosis and treatment and continue to provide children with world class care.

Care
For most children visiting hospital can be a daunting experience, meeting doctors and nurses in an unfamiliar and clinical environment. Projects supported by the charity help create a less clinical environment by supporting arts and non clinical areas within the hospital such as play and “chill out” areas. The Charity also supports communal areas within the hospital ensuring that patients and their families feel welcome and enjoy a comfortable atmosphere during the most stressful of times.

Research
Carrying out research into the best way to fight children’s illnesses is one of our main ambitions. We have come a long way in the last 180 years and research plays a critical role in pioneering new ways to prevent, treat and cure complex, life-limiting and often life-threatening illnesses.

We do this to help children like Rhys.

Rhys – age 3
On their way home from holiday Rhys’ parents noticed that Rhys didn’t seem to be able to keep control of his head so they took him straight to their local A&E.

The same night, Rhys was transferred to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, undergoing a number of tests including a lumbar puncture, an MRI scan and also blood tests. Within 24 hours his parents were told that Rhys had a rare genetic disorder called Leigh Syndrome.

This means his cells can’t produce energy properly and because there isn’t enough energy his body starts to shut down affecting the central nervous system.

Rhys can have episodes where he deteriorates, sometimes losing skills and never fully getting them back. His parents don’t know when the next episode will be or how severe.

Rhys’ parents are thankful for every sunrise as they try to give him the best quality of life they can, and enjoy the time that they have with him.