Center Parcs takes on the Three Peaks Challenge
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Last weekend, 26 colleagues from across our UK villages and Head Office took part in ‘Center Peaks’ as they climbed Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon to raise money for our charity partner.
The team surpassed their target, raising over £51,000 for Together for Short Lives and children's hospices who are there for seriously ill children and their families.
These funds will go towards providing life-changing care such as play therapy, pain management, short breaks, sibling and parent support groups, and end of life care. Above all else, our support helps families make the most of every moment together and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Karen and Josselin’s story
It is a moment that every expectant mother can’t wait to enjoy – a first cuddle with their newborn baby, but for mum of three Karen Tilley, that moment of joy turned into a ‘constant rollercoaster of emotions’ when her daughter Josselin was diagnosed with Charge Syndrome, a rare genetic condition.
Karen, a housekeeper at Center Parcs Longleat Forest, had a normal pregnancy with Josselin until she attended a routine antenatal check, where concerns were raised that her baby had a slow heart rate. After she was born, Josselin then failed her routine eight-week hearing test, which revealed she was profoundly deaf. Further checks in the coming months showed that Josselin’s vision was severely impaired, and she was registered blind. She was also struggling to swallow and was fitted with a feeding tube. It was not until Josselin was 20 months old that she was diagnosed with Charge Syndrome.
“By that point she had been very poorly,” said Karen. “She had been in hospital a few times, was being ventilated at home and had been in NICU. We knew that Charge Syndrome could leave her severely disabled and that the condition affects different children in different ways. We did not know how or where it would go. But in a strange way, it was a relief to finally have a diagnosis.”
Karen knows first-hand the difference a children’s hospice can make, having been referred to Children’s Hospice South West for support. The hospice has been a constant source of support and love for the family.
“The hospice gives me that time to put myself back together a bit,” she shared. “It allows me to do what everyone else just does – whether that’s sitting in the garden or just nipping out. At home Joss’s care is my main focus and pretty much everything revolves around Joss’s needs.”
Andy Fletcher, Chief Executive at Together for Short Lives said: “We are incredibly proud of the team at Center Parcs. Their dedication to this challenge mirrors the passion they bring to our partnership daily. This journey will inspire many and bring much-needed hope and joy to families caring for seriously ill children, as well as raise vital funds for children’s hospice services that they rely on.”
Colin McKinlay, Chief Executive Officer at Center Parcs said: “Firstly, I’d like to say a huge well done and thank you to the team at Center Parcs for taking on this monumental challenge to raise money for Together for Short Lives and children’s hospices. They provide invaluable support and care for families and through our partnership, we’ve been able to make a huge difference to thousands of seriously ill children across the UK and its thanks to our colleagues who make it all possible.”
Every donation, no matter how big or small, will help Together for Short Lives, children's hospices and the incredible children and families they serve.
If you’d like to make a donation, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/centerpeaks2024
