Help Acorns who helped Ben (and now his brother)

We're raising money in aid of Acorns Children's Hospice Trust in memory of Ben Williams. They gave superb help through the last days of Ben's life in May 2019. He had been diagnosed with the most deadly form of brain cancer two weeks after his fifth birthday in April 2018.

All his family and the many friends who saw him and supported his amazing mum and dad through this time are still heartbroken to have lost this funny, sharp, adventurous and, above all, loving young man from their lives. Ben had a sense of fun that brought tears of laughter to all around him many times in his short life, even during the 14 months he was ill.

When it came to the end and the tears were all of despair and loss, we do not know how we could have carried on without the immaculate professionalism, expertise and comfort that the Acorns staff provided. While everyone around Ben didn't know what to do, they quietly and unobtrusively did, and made the unbearable a little less of a tragedy.

Please help by supporting them- these are not easy times as they are becoming more dependent on charitable donations as public funding lags further behind demand. Their centre at Walsall is in the balance, and it costs £7000 per day to keep each centre open. Your help will help them, and help us in coming to terms with the loss of a magic child. We cannot bear the thought of other families having to face what we did without their support. Ben was magic, and so are they.

Thank you- Hugh (Benny's Grandpa)



To remember Ben his dad, uncles, and I  rode from Edinburgh to John'O Groats in memory of Ben (he was an avid cyclist- here he's riding his Team Sky special with big red bell and loud police siren and a dinosaur helmet!).  We arrived on Friday 30th August to be met by the whole family including Ben's little sister Lydia riding his bike.




Read about the ride on my Blog: https://hughwill69.wordpress.com/

Update: October 2020
Thank you for all your contributions.

Sadly, Ben's brother Reuben, who was born this year on 29th April, has been diagnosed with microcephaly and severe epilepsy. This is a life limiting condition, and once again Acorns are providing crucial and unmatched support to the family, who are trying to come to terms with this second tragedy. Acorns need everyone's help more than ever in this time of Covid when families with desperately ill children are struggling to cope and they are only able to keep two of their three centres open. 

Acorns Children's Hospice Trust say:

Acorns Children's Hospice provide care, support, fun and laughter for life limited or life threatened children and their families. We understand that family time is precious when a child's life is limited and we support families in any way we can to create lasting memories.