Our story
This year’s challenge is raising for another project super close to our hearts: a Sensory Play Space which will be built as part of the hospital's new state of the art Children's Cancer Centre. This will be a multipurpose area giving children the freedom and space to play together. It would be open to use by all children at GOSH - not just those undergoing cancer treatment and no matter their condition, including those on IV pumps and wheelchair users. There will be enough space, so that children have the freedom to play together and won’t miss out on social engagement even within the hospital walls. We know just how the right play and sensory fun can provide such comfort and joy to those children experiencing the toughest times. Play Specialists use the foundation of play for the motivation to engage with therapies and tests which benefits all multidisciplinary teams to achieve good quality care. Magnus’s favourite past-time was watching the lights from a mobile sensory station which was equipped with fibre-optic lights and colourful projectors. You can see him enjoying the lights in the photos here. We used to call it Magnus’s 'rave station' and if there was one available the wonderful staff made sure it would be heading to little raver Maggi. The Little Magpie Fund has committed to raising £75,000 towards the funding of this important space. Your donations will help them create a magical place of respite and light for these little champs!
We started this fund in memory of our beautiful son, Magnus Asika. Welcomed to the world six weeks early in September 2021, after some initial struggles in NICU, little Magnus joined his big brother, Axel, at home in London, where we enjoyed being a family of four for several months. It was then in early January 2022, after what we had believed to be a routine follow-up cardiology appointment, we received some life changing news. Magnus had developed a serious, and rare in babies, heart condition called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. This was the main symptom of a genetic condition he would later be diagnosed with called Noonan's Syndrome.
Our sweet and smiley little boy entered Great Ormond Street Hospital late January 2022 where he then remained for the next six months, and, despite our hopes for the future, he passed away after the most gallant fight at nine months old. Over this time, we witnessed Magnus receive the best care possible.
The incredible work that the teams do at GOSH depends on charitable support to give seriously ill children the best chance to fulfil their potential.
What are we fundraising for?
This year’s challenge is raising for another project super close to our hearts: a Sensory Play Space which will be built as part of the hospital's new state of the art Children's Cancer Centre.
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Magnus’s favourite past-time was watching the lights from a mobile sensory station which was equipped with fibre-optic lights and colourful projectors. We used to call it Magnus’s 'rave station' and if there was one available the wonderful staff made sure it would be heading to little raver Maggi. The Little Magpie Fund has committed to raising £75,000 towards the funding of the new sensory space. Your donations will help them create a magical place of respite and light for these little champs!
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