Derek Phillips founded Demelza House in 1998 after the death of his own daughter, Demelza. Prior to her tragic death, resulting from a brain tumour, Demelza had cared for those at Acorn Children's Hospice, in Birmingham. At the time of her death in 1993 there was no Children's Hospice in the South East, the nearest being in Oxford. Fund raising for Demelza House had begun by Christmas 1993 and by September 1998 the required £3 million had been raised and building could begin. The establishment of the hospice was made possible by the massive wave of national support the project attracted. The Countess Mountbatten of Burma became the charity's patron, Harold Rogers OBE became the President and many public figures such as The Archbishop of Canterbury and Lady Kingsdown lent their support.

With all the support that is being given, how can anyone be but enthused by such a vision? Not only will help be given to children and families at Demelza House, but also so many children in Africa, bringing hope and encouragement and letting them know someone cares” Derek Philips, Chairman of Demelza House.

Demelza House now has around 300 children on its books, eight beds and 12 bedrooms in which parents and siblings can stay. It is a place of love and joy to where terminally ill children and their families can retreat and make the most of the precious time they have. Caring for a very ill child is immensely hard. Parents have to attend to their children twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, knowing that eventually they will have to cope with their child's death. Demelza House offers them a chance to "recharge their batteries", safe in the knowledge that their child is being cared for in an informal, homely setting. Once a child has passed away the hospice goes on to guide and support the families through their bereavement. Illnesses vary from metabolic and neurological degenerative conditions, such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Batten's Disease, MPS and adrenoleucodystrophies to life threatening conditions - cancer or heart disease. Other children may be so profoundly disabled that their life expectancy is limited.

Victoria's Story

Victoria was born with a rare metabolic disorder known as NON KETOTIC HYPERCLYCINANEMIA .This is a life threatening condition caused by two people who carry the same recessive gene. Victoria was not expected to reach her 2nd birthday as many children with this condition do not. In fact she has just celebrated her 9th birthday on the 29th of july, which is an enormous acheivement and a testamony to her courage and determination. Victoria is so full of life it is sometimes hard to slow her down, from the photo's you can see that she also attends the demelza scout group as well as attending the many outings and events that demelza offers to families.

Nestled within a 6-acre site in rural Kent at Bobbing, near Sittingbourne, it serves Kent, East Sussex and South East London. Specialist facilities include a multi-sensory room, computer room and a music room. The landscaped gardens, designed to stimulate, entertain and delight the children during their stay, incorporate play areas with specially adapted equipment for wheelchair users, and an Adventure House for climbing, sliding and fun in the sand. In addition there are ponies in the paddock, and a number of pets-including the Demelza House guinea pigs! Within the chapel, recently named St Nicholas', after the patron Saint of children, families can quietly pray or reflect. Demelza House is staffed by a multidisciplinary team that consists of qualified nurses, who are supported by other professionals such as physiotherapists, teachers, play specialists, social workers and others. The care team and the administrative staff and the overall management structure are informal.

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“To give of your time and expertise so readily is a great testimony to your concern for others and I am very pleased to give you my full support in your efforts. I am in no doubt that your team is approaching this endeavour with great skill and commitment.” Archbishop of Canterbury.

There is a widely held belief that because the hospice is now built and has been fully operational for two years, its need for funding has grown less. This is far from the case. The services offered are free of charge and the hospice requires £1.25 million per year to continue providing a special kind of care. Demelza House is now in desperate need of funds. It relies almost entirely on voluntary financial support and the dedication of many friends, companies, charitable trusts and other benefactors.

Kent2CapeTown.com aims to raise funds for Demelza House through sponsorship and our own fund raising initiatives. To help us in our efforts to support this deserving charity you can visit the Help us section. Please give your support.

Further information regarding Demelza House can be obtained by contacting Izzy Bowles, Head of care. She can be contacted at Demelza House, Rook Lane, Bobbing, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 8DZ. Or by telephoning the care team office on +44 (0) 1795 842111. For general enquiries the number is +44 (0) 1795 843843.

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