Gold Geese supports families after a child is diagnosed with cancer

Gold Geese is a charity, based in Leigh, which offers care and support to help families in the most challenging times.

For Katie Southgate, the motivation to run the charity, along with the trustees, is so that she can help families the way she and her family were helped in 2014 after her daughter was diagnosed with the rare blood cancer, Philadelphia positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Katie with her daughter during her time having cancer treatment

She lived on Elephant ward in Great Ormond Street for the first year of treatment, then remained an outpatient for the second year. “My daughter is in Year 4 at school now and she has loads of friends and is into everything and is so happy,” says Katie.

“Often charities start as a result of a loss, but we have a happy story to tell. I felt I had to give back after so many helped us.”

Katie was blown away by the outpouring of love when her daughter was diagnosed.

“I remember at the time she was diagnosed I was overwhelmed with support from people,” says Katie. “I felt I couldn’t not help, after all that love and support. I wanted to do the same for other families going through the same thing.”

The charity started out as Hattie Heroes then evolved into Gold Geese (‘gold’ because it is the childhood cancer awareness colour and ‘geese’ because they are strong animals that travel huge distances together, they support one another).

Katie says that after a child is diagnosed with cancer there is a huge amount to take on board as well as many logistical challenges.

“There is so much to do when your child is diagnosed,” she says.

“Kids are very sick, very quickly on chemo so there is a lot of cleaning up to do. Parents might need to be trained in administering medication. I had training in taking bloods as my daughter wouldn’t let nurses near her at that time.”

Many parents may have to give up work while their child is in hospital.

“Children need a parent with them at all times in the hospital, often they will have to quit their job to look after them. Some blood cancers in boys can last three and a half years so it is a long-term thing. This can then have a big financial impact on the family.”

Gold Geese supports children under 18 and their families who are patients at Southend and Basildon hospitals. They organise breaks away for families to enjoy together.

Katie says: “We love to spoil the kids, organising for them to go to the theatre in the best seats, staying at the best hotels and getting them new outfits. “We aim to time the trip with the treatment so the child feels good while they are away and then have their treatment when they get back.”

Katie says that parents can relate to her because she has lived through the experience.

“The fact we have lived through it breaks down the barrier with families. I remember seeing a little girl, with lovely curly hair, come back to the ward we were on with her mum. I thought to myself that will be us coming back to the ward one day. It makes me emotional talking about it. I think it is important for parents to hear positive outcomes.”

When it comes to facing the most difficult moment of a parent’s life, Katie is there to support them if they need her to.

She said: “It can come to the very intimate time of talking about end of life care, funeral arrangements, and help with funeral costs. This is such a difficult time for parents. We aim to give families the most help and support we can at these times.”

Gold Geese runs a grotto at Old Hatch in Leigh, www.goldgeese.org/ donate/grotto, on Facebook @HattiesHeroes and Instagram @GoldGeese