Five ballet-loving families receiving treatment for childhood cancer at Great Ormond Street Hospital and UCLH enjoyed a very special, private ballet performance in London this week, thanks to local charity Gold Geese.
The children’s cancer support charity arranged a special Christmas afternoon tea and ballet show at a hotel near Great Ormond Street Hospital, bringing festive joy and memory-making to local children fighting cancer and the NHS staff who care for them.
A professional ballerina performed several dances from The Nutcracker, and the families received teddies, flowers and sweetie cones alongside a delicious afternoon tea.
Gold Geese also gifted all its Gold families a £500 voucher to help get them through the Christmas season and beyond, to cover the cost of food, toys and treats.
With several children from the area receiving cancer treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Gold Geese arranged its first London Christmas event just around the corner from the hospital so they could attend.
The charity also arranged travel for other local families affected by childhood cancer in South East Essex so they could join them.
Katie Southgate, Gold Geese Founder and Chief Executive, explains:
“Christmas with cancer is very tough but thanks to our brilliant community’s kindness and generosity we can bring back the joy and sparkle for our Gold children and the amazing, hard-working nurses who look after them.
“The children and adults were all mesmerised by the beautiful ballet dancer pirouetting her way around the room, it was a very immersive and magical experience. A huge thank you to our beautiful ballerina Natasha and our volunteer Ava who helped on the day.
“We also want to thank every one of our supporters for helping us provide magical memories like this for families facing cancer, this Christmas and all year-round. We’d like to wish everyone a merry Christmas and happy and healthy New Year.”
One parent said after attending the show:
“We had a magical day we will never forget. The girls have been dancing around like ballerinas ever since! We were thoroughly spoilt, it was lovely to see the smiles and giggles after a super tough year. It has also given us a big boost before her next round of chemo. The gifts, flowers and John Lewis voucher were beyond generous, thank you so incredibly much.”
Earlier this month Gold Geese also held a magical, private grotto party with real reindeer in Old Leigh, and a memorial festive wreath-making workshop for local families who have lost a child to cancer.
