Brave, beautiful Lauren inspires a year of charity fundraising in her memory

Brave Lauren Hutchins, from Cheltenham, sadly passed away in July aged 21, after a lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis and numerous other health conditions. Her family and friends are beginning a year of fundraising in her memory for The Sick Children’s Trust.

It was Lauren’s last wish that friends and family honoured her memory by raising money to support the charity, which has provided comfort during her years of hospital treatment.

The money raised will go towards sponsoring a room in The Sick Children’s Trust’s Treetop House at Sheffield Children’s Hospital. Over the years, Lauren spent many weeks in the hospital and her family were able to stay together, just minutes from her side, in Treetop House.

Brian Hutchins, Lauren’s Dad, says: “We’re a very close family and at weekends we’d all go up to Treetop House to spend time together with Lauren. It was very difficult for her being in hospital for weeks at a time, so having us there brought some fun and distraction.

I can’t measure the amount of relief Treetop gave us. It brought togetherness, which was just amazing. It costs the charity £28 a night to provide a room for a family like ours, but you can’t put money on that. Spending time together, being able to be a normal family, that’s priceless.

Lauren was so very brave and fought her illness hard until the end. We are all absolutely devastated by her loss – she was taken too soon. Lauren was very passionate about The Sick Children’s Trust and it gives us comfort to know that we are honouring her memory by ensuring there will be a room in the house available to another family going through a difficult time. That will be Lauren’s legacy.”

The fundraising kicks off with the Bristol Half Marathon on Sunday 13^th September. Jack Rake, 26 from Cambridge, will be taking on the challenge with friends Martin and Sam. He’s already raised £1,720 to go towards Lauren’s Sick Children’s Trust legacy.

Jack says: “I’ve worked with Brian for four years now and have got to know him well. We’ve been aware of what the family has been going through and the amazing support The Sick Children’s Trust has given them by offering them a real ‘Home from Home’ at Treetop House in Sheffield. Brian speaks so highly of the charity and they made a significant difference to what was a very tough and long period of time.

“With the recent sad news of Lauren’s passing, the team really wanted to do something to help the family. So we rallied up the troops and three of us will be tackling the Bristol Half Marathon this weekend, which will certainly be a challenge. But for all the help and support Brian and his family received, it’s a challenge we will gladly take on.”

To sponsor Jack’s Bristol Half Marathon, or to make a donation in Lauren’s memory, please visit their Just Giving page.