Dr Ruth Williamson, Chief Medical Officer at Hampshire Hospitals, welcomed a team of cyclists to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital today as they stopped for lunch during an epic 300km cycle ride to raise awareness for the charity, Sophie’s Legacy.
Sophie’s Legacy was founded in memory of Sophie Fairall, who passed away aged just ten in September 2021, a year after having been diagnosed with a rare form of childhood cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma.
Before Sophie passed away, she outlined five wishes in relation to children’s care and one of them was the provision of meals for parents whose children are being treated in hospital.
In 2023, Sophie’s mum Charlotte Fairall, was speaking at a hospital catering conference attended by Robert Strachan, Head of Catering Services for Hampshire Hospitals. On hearing about Sophie’s wishes for better food for children in hospital, and for parents to be fed when staying with their child, he introduced and championed free parent meals across all Hampshire Hospitals sites.
Speaking about her daughter’s legacy, Charlotte Fairall says: “I know how distressing it is to leave a child in order to get food.
“Often, parents and carers only have access to a kettle and a microwave, or they can find themselves spending a lot of money buying food.
“Enabling parents to eat a meal alongside their children is a reminder of home and it encourages poorly children to eat.”
This morning, Rob served the cyclists flapjacks at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, and with the help of Ruth Williamson, he served pasta carbonara and garlic bread for lunch at RHCH in Winchester!
The cyclist’s route takes in some of the first hospitals which have implemented this initiative.
For more information about Sophie’s legacy and her 5 wishes please visit www.sophieslegacy.co.uk
