The Lexi May Trust gets Greendale’s vote as Charity of the Year
Dorset Chartered Builders, Greendale Construction Limited has announced it will support The Lexi May Trust as its charity of the year after the Trust won a vote with Greendale employees, just topping The Friends of Dolphin and Dorset Mind to the top slot.
Founded in 2016 by Carly and Michael Hopkin after the tragic death of their daughter from an inoperative brain tumour, The Lexi May Trust supports children with terminal illness or life limiting conditions in Dorset.
One of Carly and Michael’s four daughters, Lexi May was a loving, smiley and happy 7 year old before being diagnosed with the second most common type of primary, high grade brain tumour in children, a Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) in January 2015.
With a diagnosis of just 9-12 months of precious time to make memories as a family, Lexi underwent two rounds of intense radiotherapy and fought bravely, before sadly passing away in her parents’ arms in January 2016, aged just 8 years old.
Lexi May’s mum, Carly Hopkin commented: “Lexi loved nothing more than a fun day out with her siblings. She was a beautiful girly-girl who loved make-up, wearing pink and riding her pony. We founded the Trust in Lexi’s memory with the intention of supporting children with terminal illness or limiting conditions throughout Dorset by the provision of memorable, fun and special days out. We are thrilled and very moved to have been voted as Greendale Construction’s Charity of the Year and every penny donated will go towards creating special memories for children and families of children living with a terminal or life limited condition.”
The Trust does not have any overheads and it is run from Lexi’s summer house in the back garden of the Hopkin family home in Wool, Dorset. Families are referred to the trust by a community nurse and then vouchers are provided to the families in order for them to have their special day. In 2018 the charity helped a staggering 50 local families enjoy days out to places like Longleat, Lego Land, Farmer Palmers, Monkey World and Marwell Zoo, as well as shopping days out with vouchers to spend. Additionally, the Trust provided 50 families with tickets to the Christmas panto in Weymouth. In 2019 to date, the charity has helped 48 families across Dorset and will again be inviting 50 families to the Christmas panto. Their future goal is to purchase a static caravan in Weymouth that is specially adapted for disabled children so that the families can create special holiday memories, all funded by the Trust.
As a gesture of goodwill, Greendale Construction will also donate £500 each to the runners up; The Friends of Dolphin and Dorset Mind.
Greendale Construction HR and Finance Director, Maria Seabright, commented: “Greendale Construction is proud to support the Lexi May Trust as our Charity of the Year and we very much hope to raise as much money as possible for them over 2020. We sincerely hope that by raising funds we will also raise awareness for the Lexi May Trust which brings so much happiness in creating such special memories for children and families dealing with heart-breaking illness.”