The Holiday of a Lifetime in the Isle of Wight

During the May half term, we took a group of 10 families away for a magical 5-day break in the beautiful and picturesque Isle of Wight.

Our families spent a wonderful week away playing on the beach and spending time together. We always want this week in the Isle of Wight to be one without worries for our families and do our best to facilitate it.

Excitement

Our lovely hosts, Chris and Ursula, met our families at the ferry terminal in Southampton and once on the ferry, their presence provided a natural meeting point for families to gather to and start getting to know one another straight away. The journey on the way to a holiday is always exciting and, while the children enjoyed the boat across the water, it’s safe to say that they were all itching to arrive.

Once they did arrive at the Sandringham Hotel in Sandown, our families wasted no time in getting the holiday started. The Sandringham Hotel has a lovely location right on the beach providing a fabulous playground for the children and a place to relax for their parents and carers.

Getting to know each other

It can be difficult for a large group of new people to integrate, so Chris and Ursula arranged for fun activities to take place in the lounge of the hotel every evening after dinner which families could join in with if they wanted to. These proved to be very popular, with the children playing together for hours, giving their parents the opportunity for relaxation and chat.

We offer our families their hotel stays on a half board basis. This provides benefits on two levels, it encourages bonding between individuals, after all there is no better way to make friends than over good food and drinks, while also alleviating financial stress for our families. We never want our families to miss out on the chance to come to the Isle of Wight and make those all-important family memories because they are worried about the money. By providing both breakfast and dinner, we hope to nip these worries in the bud.

Horse Riding

On Wednesday, we gave any families that wanted to, the opportunity to go horse riding along one of the Isle of Wight’s many spectacular sandy beaches. This is a unique experience that doesn’t come along every day, and our families relished being able to do something completely new.

The “Kids absolutely LOVED it!” and the views were simply breathtaking.

Leisure

Everyone spent the rest of the week exploring the island individually as families, or in groups. We were so happy to see our families able to make precious memories together and relax away from the rigours of cancer treatment and hospital visits.

Friendship

Long-lasting friendship is just one of the many positive outcomes of the Isle of Wight trip. We suspect that this year will be no different. The children with cancer and their siblings spent the week bonding over play, shared experiences and mealtimes.

The amazing thing about the Isle of Wight trip is that friendships are formed so quickly and there is a complete lack of judgement between the children. Because all the children have either had cancer or have an intimate knowledge of cancer treatment and the side-effects, struggles and extreme stress it causes, all children are accepted without question. Children who might otherwise have struggled to integrate in a ‘normal’ group or school setting find their feet and confidence with an ease that even takes parents by surprise.

And it’s not just the children who made friends, the bonds formed and support offered between the adults is just as important, with one family saying: “We formed multiple bonds with multiple families that will carry on long term”.

Going Home

“It’s a shame the week had to end” – a popular sentiment but as an extra treat on the ferry home and to allay any sadness, Chris managed to arrange for some of the children to meet the captain and visit the bridge. A great way to end an amazing week!

Thank You

We would like to say a huge thank you to the Dervia Foundation who made this experience possible for our children and families and put so many smiles on so many faces.

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