Chesterfield family who said goodbye to their 'ever-smiling' little boy backs new hospice fundraiser

Dougie Atkinson and his family made many happy memories at Bluebell Wood, and spent their final precious moments together at the hospice in 2018.

Mum Beth Atkinson said: “Bluebell Wood’s support was literally life-changing for me.

“It gave us the opportunity to have a normal life with Dougie. It gave him lots of opportunities, but it also gave me opportunities to carry on with my life.

“Through Bluebell Wood’s support, after two years of not working, I was able to expand my own business so I could start working for myself so that I could be around more for Dougie.

“Bluebell Wood gave me the flexibility and the courage to do that.”

Dougie, an infectiously happy little boy who loved cuddles, being outside and playing on his swing, always felt at home at Bluebell Wood.

When the time came to say goodbye, his family knew it would be at Bluebell Wood.

Beth added: “When we drove down the drive to the hospice for the last time together he knew where we were.

“He knew our house, school, grandma and grandad’s house and Bluebell Wood. He knew where he was and he was happy.”

As a charity Bluebell Wood needs to raise more than £5million each year to keep its doors open for families like Dougie’s.

The children’s hospice is giving people the chance to kick-start their 2021 with a chance to scoop the £2021 jackpot in its brand new ‘Bring in the Spring’ raffle.

The charity has launched the raffle – which people can enter at bluebellwood.org/win2021 – to raise much-needed funds after a year in which the majority of its vital fundraising activity has been cancelled or postponed.

Rachael Dawes, individual giving manager at Bluebell Wood, said: “We’d all hoped the New Year would get off to a brighter start for everyone, and while it’s clear there are many more challenges to come, we’re very much looking forward to better times.

“By entering our raffle, not only will you be helping us make precious memories with our families in the time they have together, you’ll be in with a chance of winning one of our prizes to make some wonderful memories of your own.”