Rainbows opens its doors to the community

We are celebrating our 20^th birthday year and people can join the party on Open Day as Rainbows opens its doors to the public.

We are holding our annual Open Day on Saturday, 20 September between 10.30am and 3pm.

The Open Day, which only happens once a year, offers the opportunity for people in the community to visit Rainbows and discover more about the work we do providing care and support to children and young people with life-limited illnesses and their families.

This year’s Open Day will be a birthday celebration for us because we have provided care for 20 years.

Leicestershire baker Fiona Cairns shot to fame after bakery Fiona Cairns Ltd was commissioned to make the royal wedding cake for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. She also made a television series The Home of Fabulous Cakes.

Fiona is creating the 20^th birthday cake for us, which she will cut – along with snooker legend Willie Thorne – on Open Day. She will also carry out a cake decorating demonstration.

Fiona said: “I was honoured to be asked to make the special Rainbows Birthday cake. It is wonderful that the hospice is celebrating 20 years of care and every birthday party needs a cake! I won’t reveal what I will be making but I promise it will be a special treat.”

Willie Thorne, who is also a Rainbows Patron, will present our volunteers with awards.

Visitors can take a tour of the hospice, viewing facilities such as the Hydrotherapy Pool, Music Room, Multi-sensory Room, Cinema, Arts and Craft Room and Soft Play. Members of our care team will also be on hand to give detailed information on the therapeutic treatments each room is used for.

As well as learning more about the hospice, visitors can browse at stalls and enjoy a BBQ and refreshments.

Geoff Ellis, chief executive at Rainbows, said: “Open Day is a fantastic opportunity for people to come along to Rainbows and see the work that is carried out at the hospice. And this year, it will also provide people the chance to wish us a happy birthday and join in with our celebrations.

“At Rainbows, we care for 309 children and young people. We also support 278 bereaved families and 522 siblings, and we wouldn’t be able to open our doors without the backing of the community. We hope that visitors to the hospice will be inspired by the work we do and continue to support us to deliver high quality services to life limited children, young people and their families throughout the East Midlands.”

Visitors are welcome to arrive at Rainbows on Lark Rise, Loughborough, LE11 2HS at any time during the Open Day. For more information, call 01509 638000 or visit www.rainbows.co.uk/openday