Guernsey Press

Tour helps raise money for children’s hospices

AS PART of a 15-day fundraising tour of England and Wales, Lifelites charity members paid a flying visit to Guernsey.

Published
Chief executive of charity Lifelites Simone Enefor-Doy, pictured, was transported by volunteer Freemasons in a variety of vehicles as a fundraiser for children in hospices across the British Isles. Pictured with her are, left to right, communications officer Tony Le Tissier, Provincial Grand Master Keith Read, pilot Brian Sarre and motorcycle rider Simon Hamon. (24785684)

Raising money and awareness for life-limited and disabled children in hospices, chief executive of the charity Simone Enefor-Doy was transported by volunteer Freemasons in a variety of weird and wonderful vehicles.

Mrs Enefor-Doy travelled nearly 3,000 miles over the combined legs of the journey, hoping to raise even more than the successful first tour last year which made more than £110,000.

All money raised will support the work Lifelites does in donating and maintaining assistive technology for life-limited and disabled children in children’s hospices across the British Isles.

The equipment they donate gives these children opportunities they might not have thought they had to play, be creative, control something for themselves and communicate, for as long as possible.

Mrs Enefor-Doy was flown to Guernsey from Jersey by Brian Sarre in a PA28 aircraft, then taken to the Little Chapel by Simon Hamon in a 1941 BMW 750cc motorcycle and sidecar marked with the insignia of the 216th infantry division, which was the first German unit to occupy Guernsey.

Afterwards, she was driven to the Masonic Centre by David Mitchison in a 1950s Jaguar XK150 drop head coupe, where she received a tour of the centre and was presented with a donation for Lifelites by Provincial Grand Master Keith Read, before being returned to the airport for the final leg of her tour.

Lifelites is already involved with Jersey’s children’s hospice. Although Guernsey does not have a children’s hospice, Mrs Enefor-Doy said that Lifelites would be happy to work with either Les Bourgs Hospice or the PEH in providing facilities for local children needing care.

One of the pieces of equipment donated by Lifelites to children’s hospitals is a magic carpet, which is a portable box which projects an image on to the floor, a wheelchair or a bed with which children can interact. This technology gives them the chance to escape the confines of their condition and play one of the many games or animations, such as playing football or splashing in the sea.

Another is an eyegaze, which allows those with limited mobility to control a computer using just their eyes.

By using the eyegaze, children who struggle to communicate with their family and their carers are able to do so – often for the first time.

Other items include iPads, cameras and touchscreen computers along with lots of games and other software specially designed to be accessible for children with disabilities.