About Us
React – Rapid Effective Assistance for Children with potentially Terminal illness is a dynamic charity working to improve the quality of life for children with life-limiting illnesses living in financially disadvantaged households throughout the UK. Our work is unrivalled by any other organisation and our passion and belief that every child should have comfort, dignity, and the opportunity to participate in life as fully as possible is our driving force.
React will consider requests that are of a basic, essential need and unavailable from any other source. However requests that do not fall into this bracket may still be considered provided they benefit the child's quality of life in some way. Below are some examples of how we may help:
Specialist Equipment
In addressing the needs of children with a life-limiting illness it is usual for families to require specialist or medical equipment. This is invariably ‘medical-grade’, adapted or manufactured to order and the cost can be extremely high.
Examples of recently awarded specialist equipment include:
Mobility Equipment – wheelchairs, buggies, hoists, car seats, trikes etc…
Specialist Furniture – postural chairs, adjustable beds etc…
Medical Equipment – monitors, support wear, spa baths etc…
Educational Equipment
It is essential that children who are no longer able to attend school are able to continue to learn and develop from the comfort of their own home. Families and carers may apply for educational equipment to suit the specific requirements of each child.
Examples of recently awarded educational equipment include:
Computers – touch-screens, laptops and software etc…
Sensory Equipment – fibre optics, communication aids, toys etc…
Homecare Equipment
We understand the urgency and importance of homecare equipment in the care of a terminally ill child. To our families, it is as vital to their child’s care as specialist and educational equipment.
Examples of recently awarded homecare equipment include:
Kitchen Appliances – washing machines, fridge freezers, cookers etc…
Furniture – beds, sofas, curtains, blinds, storage etc…
Clothing & Bedding – replacing soiled or outgrown clothes, sheets etc…
Other – flooring, carpets, pushchairs, cots, car seats etc…
Travel & Subsistence Expenses
Caring for a sick child inevitably involves frequest hospital visists and in many cases, hospice stays. This can mean travelling extremely long distances at very short notice, sometimes on a daily basis. At React we recognise the emotional, physical and financial strain this places on a family and as such aim to alleviate some of these pressures by providing essential travel and subsistence expenses.
Respite Breaks
Caring for a child with major disabilities or special care needs can be exhausting and seemingly relentless. Many families find that their lives revolve around treatment and where a child’s health is rapidly deteriorating, there can be seemingly little for families to look forward to. To address these issues React will consider requests for the following…
React Holiday – React can provide week long breaks at one of our eight mobile homes situated throughout the UK. To find out more about these breaks visit our ‘apply for a holiday’ page
Other Holidays – Holidays elsewhere may also be considered if sufficient reason is given as to why a React mobile home would be unsuitable
Day Trips – Week long breaks may not be suitable for some children and in these circumstances, React may consider requests for shorter breaks or day trips
End of Life Support
React aims to provide comfort and dignity to a child in life and we believe this comfort and dignity should be extended through to laying a child to rest. React will consider requestes for funeral expenses and memorial headstones to give comfort to families.
Press releases
The React Christmas Party
To help children like Cassie living with life shortening illnesses and to get into the Christmas spirit The React Christmas Party will be held... read more
06.10.2017 • By React
Run for React
Calling all runners! We would love you to run for React at this year's British 10k 2017. It doesn't matter whether if you're a beginner or... read more
14.03.2017 • By React
Hoist Gives Family New Lease of Life
For most people, a simple walk, car journey, or public transport access can get you from A to B without any worry or thought at all. However, for... read more
06.02.2017 • By React
React Gives Cassie an early Christmas Present
Five year old Cassie Mansfield lives with an extremely complex ilness, CHARGE syndrome and has Hypotonic Cerebral Palsy along with other intricate... read more
23.12.2016 • By React
