Published on 17 November 2021
A family whose daughter is battling brain tumours have raised hundreds of pounds to support the children’s ward where she has some of her treatment.
Rosa-Mae Linch was diagnosed in September 2018 aged just six and has undergone multiple brain surgeries and gruelling chemotherapy treatment.
Although her care is led by the specialist team at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, her weekly chemotherapy takes place in Padua Ward at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.
The family, who run Saffery Farm pumpkin patch near Faversham, invited customers to pop a few pounds in their collection box as they picked the perfect pumpkin.
Mum Claire said: “Thanks to the amazing community nurse teams and her wonderful consultants she has been able to have this weekly dose at the William Harvey. This means we don’t have to drive to The Royal Marsden every week and means Rosa-Mae doesn’t miss more school.
“Padua is a wonderful place. Yes, it’s a children’s ward so no-one chooses to be there but the nurses, doctors, consultants, play therapists and all the staff make it a happy place where we feel safe about the treatment Rosa-Mae is receiving.
“We have spent a lot of time in the rooms on Padua over the last few years and everyone there wants to help and make the time spent there as best it can be given the circumstances.”
More than £1,600 was raised through donation buckets on the field, as well as via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rosa-maepumpkins
It will help improve the experience of children at the William Harvey Hospital, from funding special devices for children’s audiobooks, to ‘mediteddies’ which are designed to fit over IV bags, making treatment feel less scary for younger patients.
For more information on the pumpkin farm visit their Facebook page.
