Ten-year-old, Harli Dixon, is hoping to raise £10,000 for St Elizabeth Hospice in memory of her Mum, Jemma Chatten, who received support from the independent charity until her death in July 2022, aged 34-years-old.
Harli aims to achieve her fundraising goal by hosting a Dinner & Dance at Seckford Hall on 26th July – marking two years since Jemma’s death from cancer.
Funds raised will go towards supporting St Elizabeth Hospice’s vital services, as well as contributing to funding a leaf in Jemma’s memory, on the hospice’s Memory Tree.
“St Elizabeth Hospice helped my Mum so much and I want to say ‘thank you’ to the hospice and help raise awareness of what they do, so they can help even more people,” explained Harli, who lives near Woodbridge.
“The event is going to be so much fun. My Daddy works at a beautiful hotel (Seckford Hall) and the chef is ace, so I know the event will be brilliant!
“Raising money for St Elizabeth Hospice and for my Mum’s leaf on the hospice’s Memory Tree, is so important to me. The hospice staff were so nice to me and looked after my Mummy as best they could. Even when she struggled with speaking, they knew what she liked and her favourite food to eat – they always made sure she was comfortable.
“I will remember Mummy forever, and I would love to have a leaf in her memory on the Memory Tree at the hospice. I really appreciate any support people can give to my fundraising as you will be raising funds in my Mummy’s memory and for families and friends who might need the hospice’s care in the future.”
In 2023, Harli also raised £2,500 for the hospice by taking part in the charity’s flagship fundraiser, the Midnight Walk, with funds raised going towards to St Elizabeth Hospice, which every year delivers specialist palliative care to more than 4,000 people living with a progressive or life-limiting illness, and their families, throughout East Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney.
Rob Dixon, Harli’s Dad, said: “From the moment Jemma arrived, at the St Elizabeth Hospice Inpatient Unit, the staff were just brilliant. They were so kind and compassionate towards Jemma and our whole family and, most importantly, they made it possible for Harli to have a final ‘goodbye’ with her mummy, which meant the world to us all.
“Harli wants to keep Jemma’s memory alive, and to mark two years since Jemma’s passing, she has set herself the target of raising £10,000 for the hospice to say ‘thank you’ and to also help fund a leaf on the hospice’s Memory Tree, in dedication to her mummy.
“Harli has spoken to our chef (at Seckford Hall), and is currently designing the menu, as part of an event which will feature a three course meal, live band and a range of raffle prizes too. Harli is such a kind girl and I am so proud of her for doing this and I know she will make a big success of everything she has planned in aid of the hospice.”
Liz Baldwin, Corporate and Sponsorship Fundraising Manager at St Elizabeth Hospice, said: “The whole hospice is wishing Harli the best of luck with her fundraising in memory of her mummy.
“This is a very special and generous thing to do for the hospice and every penny raised will make a big difference to patients and families under our care.”
Tickets to attend the Dinner & Dance are £65 per person or £600 for a table of ten people.
To book to attend the event, and for full details, visit – www.facebook.com/events/1012839759998961
Donate towards Harli’s fundraising goal by clicking here.
Read Harli’s hospice story in full here – www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/stories/harli-dixon-a-daughters-story/