Martin House Children's Hospice to host its first Christmas concert

This new event will raise essential funds to support children with life-shortening conditions and their families across Yorkshire, allowing them to make vital Christmas memories.

The concert will be hosted by TV presenter and Martin House ambassador Duncan Wood, and will feature incredible performances from the Mainstreet Sounds Barbershop Chorus, singer-songwriter Sadie Yarwood, vocalist Michael Carroll, Crossley Street Primary School Choir, and the inspiring voices of the Martin House Choir.

Sharon van der Vet, events fundraiser at the Boston Spa hospice, said: "This is the perfect festive event for the whole family to enjoy together in the run-up to Christmas, with live music, games, competitions, and plenty of tasty treats. By attending, you’ll be helping families supported by Martin House create their own special Christmas memories."

Alongside the live music, attendees can enjoy festive-themed activities including a secret stocking raffle, a guess the weight of the Christmas cake competition, and a charming pop-up shop. Every penny raised will go towards ensuring Martin House can provide vital care and support to families when they need it most.

Martin House provides specialist care to babies, children, and young people with life-shortening conditions, offering services such as symptom control, planned respite stays, emergency care, and end-of-life care. The hospice supports families in their homes, in hospitals, and at its site in Boston Spa, covering West, North, and East Yorkshire.

Sharon added: "We’re hoping people will join us for an evening of festive fun and create their own special Christmas memories, all while supporting the vital work we do at Martin House to help families make the most of every moment together."

The event is sponsored by JMG, meaning even more of the funds raised will go directly to the hospice.

Tickets cost £15 for adults and £5 for children, which includes a mince pie and a choice of mulled wine or a soft drink. They are available from www.martinhouse.org.uk/christmasconcert.

Picture 1: The Mainstreet Sounds Barbershop Chorus.

Picture 2: Sadie Yarwood.

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Notes to editors

Martin House has been providing family-led care and support for babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions since 1987 (life-shortening means the child or young person is not expected to live beyond young adulthood).

Every year we support over 550 children and young people, and their families plus around 200 bereaved family members across West, North and East Yorkshire, at our hospice, in hospitals and in families’ own homes.

The hospice, based in Boston Spa, has nine bedrooms in Martin House, and six in Whitby Lodge, which cares for teenagers and young people. Our services include specialist short stays, symptom control, emergency care, community care and end of life care.

Bereavement support is offered to families who have used Martin House, as well as to families whose child had a life-shortening condition but did not have the opportunity to use the hospice, or following a sudden death.

Martin House has three consultants in paediatric palliative medicine and also hosts two places to train future consultants, one of only six training centres in the UK.

There is no cost to any of the families using our services. It costs around £10.5 million a year to provide this care, the majority of which comes from voluntary donations and fundraising.

Registered Charity Number 517919​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​