Helen & Douglas House house CEO Clare Periton explains how the charity's work helps children and young people over the festive period.

CHRISTMAS for most of us is a time for getting together with friends and family. The build up to the festive period is filled with planning what to give, eat and drink and the celebrations give us the opportunity to have special moments together.

At Helen & Douglas House we look forward to Christmas the same as everyone else and we plan events and activities with joy and happiness in mind.

The children, young adults and families who visit Helen & Douglas House face incredible challenges over the festive period and beyond, but thanks to the generosity and fundraising activities of the public we provide specialist hospice care, so that families can make the most of the time they have together, creating precious memories.

It is hard to imagine, but providing a home from home environment for families to enjoy time together without the worries of what can be 24/7 care, makes such a huge difference.

Being able to spend time together, in a way most of us can take for granted, is a gift that is worth more than anything to most families who visit Helen & Douglas House, especially at Christmas.

Over the years in both Helen House for children and Douglas House for young adults, I have witnessed the most heart-breaking and the most heart-warming moments at Christmas time.

The time a very sick young girl was wheeled out in her bed to the Santa Grotto in the garden, her bed sleigh ‘pulled’ by a nurse willingly dressed as a reindeer, with antlers and bright red nose.

The parents whose baby daughter had not long died in her hospice bedroom, joining in with the events in Helen House so that their young sons could have some joy at such a difficult time.

The group of young adults who have made friends here and meet up each year at Douglas House to celebrate Christmas with the medical support they need.

We are currently preparing for Christmas celebrations in-house and fundraising events outside of the hospice houses.

In Helen House we are having our annual pantomime, provided by the charity Starlight.

During our Christmas party Santa and his naughty Elf will be in the tree-house grotto, welcoming young patients and their families.

We are also busy packing Santa suits for the Santa Run on Sunday; our iconic fun run for the whole family among the spires of Oxford.

These events, and the support of the local community, are essential for us to be able to provide the care we do and to help families create memories.

If I could have a wish at Christmas it would be for local people to donate to the charity, to help us carry on our work and make every day, not just at Christmas, easier for children and young adults with terminal illness and their families.

Please visit hdh.org.uk to make a donation this Christmas, sign up for events and to view our new film, ‘Every Little Life Leaves Happy Memories.’