A message from our founder and CEO Katie:
What an epic journey it’s been since we launched in 2018!
Our amazing local community rallied around us after my daughter was diagnosed with cancer.
And when she went into remission I wanted to pay it forward, so that every other family going through what we did, would feel the same love and support.
That’s why I set up Gold Geese. From diagnosis, through treatment and adjusting to life after cancer or with bereavement.
Setting up the charity was, and still is, difficult. I want to do the best we can for every family that comes under our wings.
To us, these kids aren’t just numbers – we know their names and their favourite colours, what they like to do and how their siblings are too.
We really care and that’s what makes the job harder, the loss and the fear around childhood cancer is immense. We do our best to help, even in a tiny way, and we’ve grown from strength to strength because of the support from our incredible local community.
So, our birthday feels like a good point to reflect on everything we’ve all done together and say a huge thank you to all our supporters and volunteers.
Our birthday is also a good time to celebrate every child that’s ever been supported by Gold Geese. They are ALL beautiful humans and we are super proud of every one of them.
A snapshot of the support we’ve given in the last seven years:
- Dozens of end of treatment celebrations and parties
- Hundreds of counselling sessions costing over £15,000
- £30,000 in bereavement support, including help with funeral costs, memorial benches, peer-to-peer support and ashes to glass jewellery
- Dozens of respite trips to Legoland, Port Lympne, Centre Parcs, London Zoo and Mercedes Benz World
- Numerous home visits and food and toy deliveries to hospital wards
- Thousands of calls and messages of support
Anna, whose son Oliver (below) died in February this year, kindly shares their experience of Gold Geese support:
“Gold Geese has been a lifeline to our family. Paying for an amazing trip away for my son’s last birthday with extended family meant so much to us and provided us with memories that we will always cherish, and another trip after my son passed to help our remaining family just take a break and reflect on what it means to become a three.
“The trips and the parties and the fun days out creating memories are wonderful but it’s only a small part of how Gold Geese have helped us.
“Having someone to talk to who understands what I’m going through is something I don’t think I could have gotten through the last two years without, and the care and love and help that has been provided to both my sons, the one who didn’t survive his brain tumour and the one who is still here, is just astounding.
“There are no words to express how grateful I am to Gold Geese and to Katie, and to all the people who so generously donate money to help families like mine.”
