Forget Me Not children’s hospice launching Snowflake Appeal at annual Christmas Fayre
Forget Me Not children’s hospice will be officially launching its 2026 Snowflake Appeal at its annual Christmas Fayre at the end of the month.
The special event takes place on Sunday, November 29, between 12pm and 3pm at the hospice’s Russell House base in Huddersfield, with every penny raised on the day set to be doubled through match funding.
Visitors will be able to enjoy a festive afternoon packed with family fun while helping kick-start the appeal, which aims to raise £320,000 to fund Forget Me Not’s specialist snowflake care for families when a child dies, for an entire year.
There will be a chance to visit Santa in his grotto, enjoy games, sweet treats and hot drinks, hear from a choir and brass band, and browse stalls selling unique handmade gifts. Forget Me Not will also be selling locally grown Nordmann Fir Christmas trees in a range of sizes from 4ft to 8ft, with prices starting at £35, including collection and recycling within West Yorkshire.
Following its launch at the Christmas Fayre, Forget Me Not’s Snowflake Appeal will run from Wednesday, December 2, to Friday, December 4, to fund the wraparound support Forget Me Not provides to families when a child dies, either at their purpose-built hospice, Russell House, or at home, as well as help with funeral planning, grief counselling and ongoing bereavement support.
Georgia Lane, fundraising manager at Forget Me Not, said: “It is hard to imagine the heartbreak families face when a child dies - whether after years of uncertainty or completely without warning. In the difficult yet precious minutes, hours and days that follow, what families need most is time, space and support. That’s when we step in.
“Our snowflake care wraps around every member of the family, providing emotional comfort and practical support through the most difficult experience of their lives.
“This support is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, but receives no statutory funding. That’s why we're launching our Snowflake Appeal at this year;s Christmas Fayre. We hope the festive event will help us get the appeal off to the strongest possible start.
“Thanks to match funding, every penny donated to the appeal will be doubled, so we’re pulling out all the stops to help us raise the £160,000 needed to unlock the full £320,000 target.
“Every penny raised at our Christmas Fayre will be included, meaning everyone who comes along will be helping us make twice the difference for local families facing the loss of a child.
“So whether you’re coming to see Santa, buy your Christmas tree, pick up gifts or simply enjoy the festive atmosphere, you'll be helping launch our Snowflake Appeal and support families at the toughest time of their lives.”
Entry to the Christmas Fayre at Russell House, Fell Greave Road, Huddersfield HD2 1NH, is just £2 for adults and free for kids, but any donations made on the door will be doubled.