Spicerhaart creates magic for bereaved families
Spicerhaart’s in-house charity, Magic Moments, has taken a group of bereaved families on a trip to Disneyland Paris to help them make new magical memories.
54 people from 12 families, including 27 children, went on the four day trip, led by Magic Moments Trustee Emma Barber, Spicerhaart’s Head of Training and Development.
Emma said, “The families were nominated, following the death of a child, by the 13 children’s hospices we support across the UK. People realised that once they walked through the doors at Disneyland it was okay to have fun in that environment and create new memories for their other children. Many said they wouldn’t have done it on their own as we made it really easy for them and removed all the stress.”
Magic Moments, established in 1998 by Spicerhaart, has raised £1.4 million thanks to the generosity of staff, suppliers and associates.
One of the families on the trip said they were extremely grateful to Magic Moments following the death of their son. Noah Pettengell was just 20 months old when he died in April 2016, having suffered brain damage at birth. His parents, Marc and Roby and three siblings were nominated by Little Havens Hospice at Benfleet, Essex, to take part in the trip.
Mr Pettengell, 30, who runs a medical recruitment agency, said he and his wife Robyn, 29, enjoyed making happy memories with their three children: Amelia, 7, Oscar, 3 (Noah’s twin) and seven-month-old baby Ivy.
He said, “It was just so wonderful to see the kids enjoying themselves and to be able to focus our attention on them. They loved absolutely everything, including breakfast with the Disney characters, taking part in the rides and being spoiled.
“We appreciate everything the charity did for us, including being able to chat to other families on the trip who had also been bereaved and knew exactly what we have been going through.”