10 November 2010
For children who might not otherwise travel on a plane, the unique experience of 
virtually flying one themselves is a wonderful opportunity to explore the world from within a children’s hospice.
Lifelites – the only charity that provides fun and educational technologies for children in hospices - has made this possible at Keech Hospice Care by providing a high specification computer with a wide HD screen and flight simulator software as well as a wonderfully authentic joy stick.
Lifelites also provides lots of fun software for use with a wide variety of special computer accessories that help children with limited movement and dexterity to play the games for themselves. For many of the children using the squidgy crescent shaped Gooshy ‘switch’ or a head mouse, which is operated by wearing a specially adapted baseball cap, and being able to make up their own nurseries rhymes simply by touching the screen or pressing a big button is one of the few ways in which they can take control for themselves.
Lifelites Chief Executive, Simone Enefer-Doy, said: “We are
very excited that through the wonders of technology, Lifelites is able to help children whose lives are necessarily restricted by their conditions to have the pleasure of flying a virtual plane for themselves giving them the opportunity to escape the reality of their illness by taking themselves anywhere in the world on their very own ‘flights of fantasy.”
Mike Keel, CEO, Keech Hospice Care commented: “We are very grateful to Lifelites for providing their technology project, which will be of great benefit to the children who use our hospice, and to The Thomas Cook Children’s Charity for their generous donation supporting Lifelites.”
“The specialised equipment allows the children who use our hospice to enjoy the same experiences as their able-bodied friends and which modern technology allows.It is not something we could have afforded to install without the help of these two charities.”
The Thomas Cook Children’s Charity has donated over £32,000 to Lifelites so that children at 10 hospices, including Keech Hospice Care, can benefit from the special computers and flight simulator software this year.
Manny Fontenla-Novoa, Group CEO and Chairman of The Thomas Cook Children's Charity said: “We're delighted that our donation will enable so many children the opportunity to experience the world of travel for themselves. The technology that Lifelites provides has such a positive impact on both the children and their families and we're thrilled that we can help them offer this to more hospices throughout the UK.”
Freemasons Provincial Grand Master of Bedfordshire, Michael Sawyer said, “I am very proud of the work that was done by Freemasons in the formation of the Lifelites project and of the work that has continued now it is a public charity. It is still providing education and entertainment technology for life-limited children in hospices all over the country. In Bedfordshire, we are pleased that we can continue the support of the Freemasons through the appointment of a Lifelites volunteer who works closely with Keech Hospice Care to ensure maximum benefit is derived from this equipment.”
The Lifelites package at Keech Hospice Care also includes printers, cameras and controlled internet access so the children can safely explore the world on the web and broaden their horizons. Lifelites also pay for both installation of the equipment and training of hospice care staff on how to get the best use out of it all with the children.
