Francis House Children’s Hospice Launches “Love and Life” Christmas Appeal with Heartwarming New Film Showcasing Support for Families of Seriously Ill Children
On Wednesday, November 26th, 2025, Francis House Children’s Hospice officially launched their annual Christmas Appeal with the release of a poignant new film. Titled “Love and Life,” the film features the story of a family from Dukinfield and is narrated by Jen East, mother to 11-year-old Florence who has a life-limiting condition.
The premiere of the film took place at the charity’s Christmas Ball at Mottram Hall, which raised an impressive £25,000 on the night. The appeal aims to raise funds for the hospice’s range of services that offer support to the entire family, not just the child with a life-limiting condition. These services include respite care, sibling support sessions, homecare, day care, and emotional support.
For over 34 years, Francis House has been a pillar of support for families in Greater Manchester. To date, they have helped over 1,500 families by surrounding them with love and providing a warm and welcoming home away from home. The hospice encourages families to embrace happy and joyful moments, even in the face of difficult circumstances.
For Jen East, Francis House is a lifeline. Her daughter Florence was referred to the hospice in 2017 when she was just two years old. Since then, the entire family, including Jen’s 14-year-old son Riccardo, has been receiving respite care at the hospice.
Florence was diagnosed with a life-limiting regressive condition called Late Infantile GM1 Gangliosidosis, which has left her unable to walk, talk, or sit up unaided. Despite her challenges, she is known for her cheeky smile and great sense of humor. Florence loves socializing and participating in the various activities offered at Francis House.
“When Florence was diagnosed, our whole world was turned upside down,” says Jen. “Someone told me about Francis House and they invited the three of us to come for lunch – it immediately felt like it was a home from home. It was calm and full of love.”
Jen also highlights the importance of the hospice for her son Riccardo, who has to deal with the challenges of having a sister with a life-limiting condition. “Riccardo absolutely loves it at Francis House. They take him to the cinema and he’s mixing with other siblings, so they get to talk, share and support each other,” Jen shares.
Francis House relies on the generosity of the community to continue providing its vital services. It costs £5.8 million a year to run, and they currently support over 435 families with respite, end of life care, and other services. Rachael Taylor, the chief executive of Francis House, emphasizes the impact of the hospice on families like Jen’s: “Francis House offers much more than just respite care; it’s a place where memories are made, friendships are formed, and most importantly, lives are lived to the fullest.”
To learn more about the Christmas Appeal and watch the film, visit https://www.francishouse.org.uk/jen-flo-and-riccardo-story/. Any support from the community this holiday season is greatly appreciated.
