Siblings prove partners in ‘climb’ as popular fun days leave daring youngsters on a real high
September 8, 2022
Children showed their agility and scaled the heights during two popular fun days organised by East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
The visits to Clip ‘n Climb, in Clifton Road, Cambridge, were organised for siblings who are either bereaved or have a brother or sister receiving care at Milton.
Thirty-two youngsters from the ages of five to 15 visited over the course of two days, representing 19 families. They met at EACH’s Milton hospice before travelling by luxury coach courtesy of Dews Coaches.
The Cambridge-based company are long-term supporters and provide transport for sibling days completely free of charge.
The children had a short safety briefing, learning how to clip and unclip themselves, before attaching their safety harnesses and starting to climb. They tackled various walls, including the centre’s two extreme challenges – Stairway to Heaven and the Vertical Drop Slide.
The children then had a packed lunch before enjoying various activities, including colouring, a quiz and word search, before heading back to Milton.
EACH group and events co-ordinator, Jenna Kent, said: “The siblings had a great time and these trips proved every bit as popular as our first visit to Clip ‘n Climb, in 2019. Covid then struck but the children have been asking to go back ever since.
“Over two days, we had 32 children – 18 on the first and 14 on the second – and those numbers speak for themselves. Some were coming for the first time and others were returning for the first time since Covid.
“Some were a bit nervous to begin with but you can see their confidence grow throughout the day. Their self-esteem builds and they’re proud of their achievements, as they push themselves to take on different challenges.
“As ever, it was a great opportunity to make new friends and many of the children who sat with a brother, sister or person they knew on the journey there wanted to sit with new friends on the way home. It showed they had formed new bonds and were keen to carry on chatting.
“It was great fun and, once again, we’ve had lovely feedback. They all want to do it again.”
EACH runs sibling days during the school holidays, for children aged five to 16. They allow siblings to come together, have fun and make friends in a safe environment.
EACH supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Essex and Norfolk. In addition to Milton, it also has The Treehouse, in Ipswich, and The Nook, in Framingham Earl, near Norwich.