Kai Rayment-White (4 yrs old) receives a cheque for �250,000 on behalf
of The Sick Children's Trust from Michael Crawford O.B.E.

Michael Crawford donates �1/4 million to The Sick Children's Trust

To mark the 16th anniversary of becoming President of The Sick Children's Trust, Michael Crawford O.B.E has donated �1/4 million to the charity, the biggest single donation to date.

On Monday 24th March, Michael Crawford O.B.E made the generous donation of �250,000 to The Sick Children's Trust at our new 'Home from Home'. This incredible gesture is a wonderful opportunity to help the charity just as our eighth 'Home from Home' is close to completion. The new house located in the grounds of the Royal London Hospital is our most challenging project, so we really needed the help!

Michael Crawford says:

"It has been a huge honour to play a part in the growth of The Sick Children's Trust over the past 16 years. The energy which the charity injects into new projects is remarkable. They never cease to look for new ways in which they can support families and help keep them together at such vulnerable times. When a child faces a life-threatening illness, it is essential to their recovery that they are surrounded by their whole family. I am therefore very pleased to be part of this, their 8th and most ambitious Home from Home to date; serving the Royal London Hospital in East London. I hope it will inspire others to support The Sick Children's Trust too."

The Sick Children's Trust 'Homes from Home' are extremely important to the families of sick children who have to travel great distances to hospitals across the UK to receive the specialist treatment that they need.

Knowing that there is a comfortable bedroom waiting for them in a friendly house, with all the facilities and home comforts that they have at home, parents are safe in the knowledge that they are only a short distance from their child's bedside with a direct telephone connection to their child's ward. This goes some way towards giving peace of mind at a very distressing time. The homes also enable the whole family to stay together, so that brothers and sisters don't feel left out.

In short, the 'Homes from Home' help to restore the lost sense of normality many families experience at a difficult time; the family can eat home cooked meals together, watch television and the children can play. Indeed, maintaining a level of consistency in the lives of family members and reducing stress levels is widely believed, in the medical community, to help the sick child to recover.

Michael Crawford O.B.E became president of The Sick Children's Trust 16 years ago in March 1987 as a result of his genuine empathy for children's issues. The huge donation has come from the 'Michael Crawford's Children's Charity' - his personal charitable trust.

He has proved to be a great friend to The Sick Children's Trust over the years, personally opening some of our houses and encouraging his loyal fans to donate generously. The "Michael Crawford International Fan Association" has generated over �200,000 for the charity to date.

The Sick Children's Trust helps seriously ill children by providing support and accommodation for the entire family during a child's hospital treatment.