What We do

The foundation will provide Dream boxes (containing age suitable craft materials)and a £100 Smyth’s toy store voucher to children diagnosed with a DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Giloma)brain tumour within England and Wales. We will also provide educational workbooks at all levels of the key stage framework and national curriculum should any child not be attending a school setting.

Furthermore, The foundation may also offer to fund a short term respite break for the child and their family up to the value of £500, striving to support physical and mental wellbeing at every opportunity and helping to relieve the stressors associated with the clinical settings that the children regularly attend.

An example of a short term break could include a Haven Caravan park, Centre Parc’s or Harry Potter World. We aim to continually engage and work with each family so they can access their desired location. 

Research has evidenced that respite breaks for paediatric brain tumour families can reduce stress and promote improved mental health, they can have a positive impact on the patients wider family and they can allow them to experience a sense of normality, which is exactly what we aim to achieve. 

The foundation will support children who have been diagnosed with a DIPG brain tumour, however we may also accept referrals from healthcare professionals for children with other high grade brain tumours that are life limiting. 

Of note, all referrals for foundation support must be received from a Healthcare Professional at the hospital the child is being treated. Please refer to referral process for further information. 

Dream Boxes

All dream boxes will be dispatched to the child’s home address or hospital ward stated on the referral form using a courier (such as Evri or Parcel-force). They will be sent out as soon as practicable after the referral has been received and will require a signature upon delivery. 

Smyths Voucher

The £100 Smyths Voucher will be sent electronically to the email address given by the child’s parent/guardian upon referral. The electronic voucher can be spent in store or online. 

No cash alternative is available to the voucher.

Educational Resources

If a child referred into The Foundation is not attending a school setting, we will send out age suitable key stage workbooks/materials alongside their dream box, ensuring all children can still enjoy being educationally stimulated throughout their brain tumour journey in the comfort of their own home. 

Respite Break

As part of the referral process The Foundation will request an email address and mobile number for the parent/guardian of the child being supported and upon receiving the referral, The Foundation will make contact with the parent/guardian as soon as practicable and discuss the possibility of a short respite break them.

No cash alternative is available to the respite break. 

Please note at this time, the foundation will only accept referrals for DIPG brain tumour patients within England and Wales.