The Matchroom Foundation has donated £30,500 a year for the next three years to enable a full time nurse to be funded on the Jessie May team and extend their reach to support even more children. Since the Foundation was established over £280,000 has been pledged to Jessie May following on from years of support from the World Snooker to the Bristol based charity.
Jessie May was set up in 1996 by the parents of Jessica May Purrington. Jessica died from a genetic condition when she was only 4½ months old. Jessica’s parents were determined to do what they could to enable other children with conditions like Jessica’s, and their families, to have support in their own homes and the choice to die at home when that time comes.
They aim to provide the very best care and support possible, at home, for children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions and their whole families, from diagnosis through to bereavement. This is achieved with a dedicated team of children’s nurses and nursery nurses to provide specialist care and support. This includes: respite care, family events, support with hospital stays, end of life planning, end of life care and bereavement support.
Since Matchroom began supporting Jessie May in 2017, the grants have enabled the support of 140 children as well as 45 bereaved families each year.
Margot’s mum, Victoria says: “If Jessie May didn’t have support from people giving donations, we wouldn’t have Jessie May and our lives would be hugely impacted in such a negative way; this includes both Margot and Mimi (her sister) as well as us as parents. It’s almost difficult to put into words what donations mean.”
Lorraine Jones, representing Jessie May, says “We’re so grateful to the Matchroom Charitable Foundation for your generous support. That you are able to donate towards our core work is even more beneficial because it means we can use the funding where it is needed most. It means we can provide smiles and hugs and comfort during the good times and the bad, it means we can be there for each child who needs our care and each family member or carer who needs our support. Thank you.”