The Arsenal Foundation has helped to fund React, a charity working to improve the quality of life for terminally ill children living in financially disadvantaged households through the provision of essential equipment and aid. Conor O’Donnabhain tells us about their work.
“I joined React as an administrator straight from university around seven years ago, as I was determined to join a charity that makes a real difference to people in need. I happened to live close to the React office and was deeply moved by their work. When I joined I was amazed that such a relatively small team could impact the lives of so many families around the UK.
“We’re a small, tight-knit team working hard to turn around requests from families as quickly as possible, and raising funds to ensure we can keep helping those who need it most. Our family liaison officers work closely with families and healthcare professionals and we aim to respond to all requests within a maximum 48-hour time frame – or even the very same day for the most urgent requests (for example, if a child’s health takes a turn for the worse and urgently needs a seizure monitor, or if a car seat is needed to transport their child to and from a specialist care centre miles away from home).
“I oversee the fundraising side of React’s activities but all our team members are trained in all aspects of the charity’s work, working directly with families and the kind fundraisers, volunteers and donors in the community who enable us to continue doing what we do.
“Just one example of the children we have helped recently is a boy called Filip [pictured above]. His first seizure at just five months old was initially thought to be infantile spasms, but years later, when displaying signs of poor mobility and autism, he was diagnosed with Dravet Syndrome.
“Filip will suffer seizures for the rest of his life and he is in danger of collapsing at any time.
“His mum Gabriela knew that a standard children’s buggy couldn’t offer Filip adequate postural support, and as a ten-year-old he still had plenty of growing to do. Specialist pushchairs are very expensive, but we were able to help by supplying her with one.
“The Arsenal Foundation’s grant was used to improve the lives of two terminally ill children in north London, both under the age of five. One child, who lives with a rare brain disorder, was provided a P-Pod seat – a large, comfortable specialist chair that provides full postural support for children with severe disabilities.
“The second child lives with a severe illness that is degenerative, and was provided a lightweight, portable specialist seat called a GoTo. This is also a specialist seat and is designed to be used almost anywhere – at the dinner table, at the park and on shopping trolleys.
“Working for a charity like React is of course deeply rewarding. One aspect I’d really like to emphasise is just how wonderful, caring and inspiring all of the parents that we work with on a daily basis are. There can be nothing more devastating and heartbreaking than receiving the diagnosis that your child will not live to adulthood and, for most of our parents, caring for their child is a full-time and often exhausting task.
“Despite the unimaginable challenges these families face, they all simply want to provide the most enriched and fulfilling life possible for their children and they show extraordinary strength to keep going each day. The carer-parents I’ve worked with through React are genuinely some of the loveliest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting, and we are so happy to be able to make their lives that bit easier.
“Bereavement is also part of the job – React provides end of life care, such as memorial headstones, for families whose child has sadly passed away and we are as sensitive and sympathetic as possible when working with them. We try to make the application process simple and offer a friendly ear at the end of a phone line.
“The Arsenal Foundation’s support has had a direct, positive impact on the lives of two terminally ill children and their families living in the local community and, on their behalf, we are incredibly grateful. The Foundation carries out fantastic work for many excellent causes and I’m sure all beneficiaries would agree, the more football clubs helping charities and local communities, the better.”
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React uses donations to help poorly children by providing specialist equipment, often at short no-tice, to families who often can’t afford it
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