Celebrating 15 years of comfort and joy

2022 was a special milestone for Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service, as we marked 15 years since we were founded by Fiona and John Devine in 2007. Since then, we’ve given hundreds of children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, and their families, the specialist care and support that they need.

Thank you to everyone we helped us celebrate, a milestone that would not have been possible without our amazing supporters.

With your help, we can continue in our journey to grow our service so we can be there for more children and their families for the next 15 years and beyond.

It all began with a very special boy – Alexander

Alexander’s bravery, strength and kindness inspired so many people across our community. It is because of Alexander that today we bring specialist care and vital support to so many children and their families that need us. Needing the support of a children’s hospice service is not something any parent wants or expects.

For John and Fiona Devine, it was something they were not prepared for when in November 2001, four year old Alexander was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Their world was consumed by hospital appointments, doctors, nurses, operations, treatments, scans and stays in hospitals. They described it as being on an “emotional rollercoaster”, which they had no control over. Without a children’s hospice in Berkshire, they would have have to travel for hours in the car with Alexander to access the specialist care and support the family needed.

These journeys were difficult and often dangerous due to his medical condition. Alexander endured four and a half years of operations, treatments and therapy, but sadly died at the age of eight. Through their experience and much research, it was clear that Berkshire needed its own children’s hospice service.

In 2007, Fiona and John established Alexander Devine Cancer Trust (later to become Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service), and so began their journey to make sure that children, like their son Alexander, and families likes theirs would be able to access the support they needed closer to home.

Our timeline

Since 2007, we’ve been dedicated to providing specialist care and vital support to as many children and their families across Berkshire and into surrounding counties as possible.

Become part of our journey

As a regular giver, your support means we can change lives together now and in the future. We want to reach out and bring comfort and joy to every child and family that needs us, and with your help we can.

Some of the extraordinary children and their families that we support

Mekaal and Jibreel’s story

Mekaal and Jibreel’s story

The Ali family never imagined they would need a children’s hospice service like Alexander Devine but in April 2021, doctors diagnosed their seemingly healthy boys with a rare and deadly genetic condition that causes irreversible damage to the brain with progressive loss of physical and cognitive skills.

Frankè

Frankè

When he was just four weeks old, Frankè stopped breathing. This frightening episode led doctors to discover that Frankè has a genetic condition and a number of complex health conditions including severe heart abnormalities. His mum Sarah bravely lives with the heart-breaking uncertainty of not knowing how long she will have with her “cheeky and strong-willed” little boy, Frankè.

Pippa

Pippa

“Alexander Devine support is invaluable. They are there through all sorts of different issues, whether it be emotional support or medical advice,...

Alexander Devine on Facebook

One of the greatest and most precious gifts our charity receives is time 💙💛We are fortunate to have 155 amazing volunteers who collectively donate around 2,000 hours of their time each year. Without their vital support, we would not be there for children and families that need us. This #VolunteersWeek we will be celebrating what inspires our volunteers to make their unique contributions to our charity, whether at the hospice or out in the community. If our volunteers inspire you to gift your time, you can learn more about volunteering with our charity here: www.alexanderdevine.org/volunteer#InspiringVolunteers #localcharity ... See MoreSee Less
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It was lovely to welcome Jon Davey, Community Champion from Tesco in Dedworth Road Windsor, to our children’s hospice last week with a very generous donation of books for our next children’s book sale. We are so grateful for the ongoing support that Jon and his team give to Alexander Devine. Their kindness makes such a difference to our charity 💙💛Tesco #CommunityChampion ... See MoreSee Less
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With 3 weeks until #ChildrensHospiceWeek, will you help us #RockTheBlue?!🙋‍♀️ Sign up to receive your #RockTheBlue fundraising pack💡 Plan your blue themed activity or challenge💙 Raise money and make a difference to local children with life- limiting and life-threatening conditions 👉 Visit www.alexanderdevine.org/rocktheblue or email our friendly fundraising team for help with your BLUE-ming brilliant ideas: fundraising@alexanderdevine.org #fundraisingfun #localcharity #childrenshospiceservice ... See MoreSee Less
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Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service is the operating name of Alexander Devine Children’s Cancer Trust. A company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales No. 5757493

Copyright © 2019 Alexander Devine Children's Hospice Service. UK Registered Charity No. 1118947.