The Bubble Foundation
Tell us about the charity.
Founded in 1993, the Bubble Foundation is a small charity based on Ward 3 at the Great North Children’s Hospital at the RVI in Newcastle. Children admitted to the ward have a lifethreatening immune deficiency and require a bone marrow or stem cell transplant. Whilst on the ward they live in isolation with a parent or carer, in a protective ‘bubble’ to keep them safe from infection. Children mainly come for treatment from as far south as Birmingham and from Wales, Scotland and Ireland, but some come from further afield due to the ward’s reputation for excellence of the service. They are uprooted from their home and family for many months.
The Bubble Foundation provides toys, activities and equipment for the children, medical equipment for the ward which can’t funded by the NHS, and emergency funds and support for families. The charity also funds vital research into treatments and diagnosis of primary immunodeficiencies and has made a significant contribution to improving outcomes for these children.
Our aim is to give every young superhero on Ward 3, the care and childhood they deserve as they face their daily battle fighting for life leading to lifelong cure of their condition.
What type of fundraising events do you have?
We have a small number of places in the Great North Run! You can organise your own event for us such as a cake sale or a Wear Blue Day. You can also take part in our annual challenge – Steptember! Can you walk 10,000 steps every day in September? Better still get your workplace involved, create healthy habits and add a bit of competition – who can walk the furthest? Get in touch for details!
Who are your patrons and trustees?
We are honoured to have Brian McFadden (of Westlife and Boyzlife) as out President, actress Charlie Harwick and artist Alexander Millar are our Patrons. We have a very active Trustee Board including some medical staff who have been involved with the ward, and the charity, for over 30 years. Professor Andrew Cant is our Chair. Other trustees are Professor Andy Gennery, Professor Mary Slatter, Neil Stotesbury, Anna Hodgson, Vicky Philipson, Helen Mylott, Dan Clark, James Turnbull and Bevis Jones. James, our youngest trustee, has an amazing story. As a small child James was diagnosed with Chronic Granulomatous Disease. The disease means that the immune system is not working correctly, leading to increased susceptibility to infections which can be critical. In August 2012, when he was nine years old, James was a patient on Ward 3 where he underwent a bone marrow transplant. This is a major procedure which required a seven week stay in an isolation ‘bubble’. James was so inspired by his time on Ward 3 that he graduated from Sheffield University, as a Pediatric Nurse last year. In a wonderful turn of events, he is now a nurse on the very same pediatric bone marrow transplant ward where he was a patient 12 years ago.
Find out more about our trustees here –
www.bubblefoundation.org.uk/learn
What has been your proudest moment so far?
Research funded by the Bubble Foundation has helped to improve the survival rate of children treated on Ward 3 from 50% to over 90%. This is an amazing achievement, but we continue to strive for better results.
What are you currently working on?
We are working on updating our website and we are looking forward to revealing a new logo for the Bubble Foundation in the spring!
We will be holding our first online raffle in the spring, and we are looking for prizes to entice people to buy lots of tickets. If you can help, please get in touch.
We are building a corporate support package to expand our connections with businesses. Corporate support can vary from supplying a raffle prize, to holding an office cake sale, having our leaflets at reception, to holding an event, such as a golf day or dinner or sponsoring a piece of equipment.
How do you get involved?
Follow us on social media:
Share our posts whenever you can, this helps raise awareness of primary immunodeficiencies and the work of the Bubble Foundation.
Fundraise for us:
Take on a challenge or set up an event to fundraise for us. Get in touch for ideas and support.
Help us find corporate support:
Can you introduce us to a business who would like to know more? Our relaunch in spring will draw a lot of attention, would your business like to be involved?
Donate now:
www.bubblefoundation.org.uk/donate
Visit our website to learn more:
www.bubblefoundation.org.uk
Get in touch:
Email: bubble.foundation@nhs.net
Phone: 07760 393187