Homes from Home Appeal

Alannah Donnelly from County Down was six years old when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

“Alannah's treatment started straight away. She had two intense blocks of chemotherapy over ten months and had to stay on the ward for the first few weeks of her treatment, which was really tough,” says Julie-Ann, Alannah's Mum.

“We were travelling backwards and forwards from home to the hospital a lot, which is about an hour each way. It was exhausting for the whole family.”

Every week, two children and young people are diagnosed with cancer in Northern Ireland. They will usually travel to Belfast for specialist treatment at either The Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children or The Belfast City and Northern Ireland Cancer Centre.

On average a family in Northern Ireland will make a round-trip of 95 miles, up to five times a week so that they can access the cancer treatment their child needs.  This puts a big financial strain on the family with the cost of travel and possibly temporary accommodation while their child is undergoing treatment.

CLIC Sargent’s Northern Ireland Homes from Home Appeal

However, good news is on its way for the 170 children and young people being treated for cancer in Northern Ireland. We are launching an appeal to build two new Homes from Home in Belfast, within walking distance of each hospital.

The appeal aims to raise £4m to provide free self-catering accommodation close to the specialist treatment centres. Like our other Homes from Home, the new buildings will include shared kitchens and lounges, playrooms, teenagers rooms, laundry facilities and an outside space. Most of all they will provide a friendly and relaxing place, away from the hospital where families can be together.

Barry and Sandra McGuigan support the Appeal

Former world boxing champion and CLIC Sargent Patron, Barry McGuigan has agreed to be Patron of the Northern Ireland Homes from Home Appeal, and his wife, Sandra McGuigan will be Chair of the Appeal Committee.

Barry says: “I know first-hand about the vital support CLIC Sargent provides for families affected by childhood cancer, because it helped our family when my daughter Danika was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of 11.

“Home from Home accommodation in Belfast will help to reduce the emotional and financial strain for hundreds of families in Northern Ireland, so I’ll be doing whatever I can to encourage people to donate to, or support this appeal”.

Support the Northern Ireland Appeal

Every donation to CLIC Sargent’s Homes from Home appeal will be used to fund CLIC Sargent’s work in Northern Ireland.

If you would like to get involved and help support CLIC Sargent's Northern Ireland Appeal please contact the appeal office on: 02890 725780. top of page