Donna’s Dream House is a holiday home for children with life-threatening or terminal illnesses, situated in the heart of Blackpool, on Chapel Street, not far from the huge Bonny Street car park.
Donna, after who the charity is named, was the daughter of Len and Barbara Curtis, who died on New Year’s Day in 1996. She’d just turned 20 and had spent four years battling cancer. Having seen the suffering that children and their families go through with terminal illness, Donnas parents have certainly fulfilled their daughters last wishes and created a legacy to help other families to have at least a little happiness.
Donna’s Dream House was a derelict hotel, and for a peppercorn rent the keys were handed over from Blackpool Council on Donna’s birthday, which was also Len and Barbara’s 35th wedding anniversary. Local businesses, hoteliers, nightclub owners, cafes, shopkeepers and members of the public have donated products, services, time and cash to create this place and also help with running costs.
The house has four family apartments with themed rooms which include Winnie the Pooh’s Den, Cartoon World, Teddy Bear World and a Tangerine Room decked out with Blackpool Football Club merchandise. The communal rooms include a circus room complete with a steam train running around the ceiling, and a wonderful Disney room, bursting at the seams with fantastic teddies, soft toys and murals. Many toys have been supplied by specialist charities or retail outlets – such as Blackpool’s Disney shop branch. Families visiting the house will also receive a pack of tickets for the Tower, the Sealife Centre, Tussards, Blackpool Zoo, the Model Village, Mermaid Cafe and more, again, all kindly donated by the town’s businesses.
There’s also a fabulous garden area at the back of Donna’s Dream House and a patio area that was designed and built by Prince’s Trust volunteers, and even some huge flowers donated by the Illuminations Department. There’s a car park, and possibly the most poignant room, which is a pretty wooden chapel-like quiet room, set in its own grounds. Soft music plays on entry; there are poems of remembrance and other beautiful features. This is “where children can be laid to rest, or parents can go to scream” Len explains, with honesty born of experience.
The next phase of the house is to build a bereavement centre, where parents and relatives can go to be with others in similar situations – for help, or guidance or even just to let off steam.
Donna’s Dream House is operated by volunteers, and only 1% of the funds which are raised go towards administration and legal costs. So a huge 99p in every pound raised is spent on providing holidays, accommodation and related support work.
The community and businesses of the Fylde Coast were especially fantastic after the arson attack in December 2011, enabling Donna’s Dream House to carry on its great work helping families.
If you would like to know more, go to the website www.donnasdreamhouse.co.uk
You can email len@donnasdreamhouse.co.uk or ring 01253 752222
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