Horatio’s Garden has just announced that Princess Eugenie has become the charity’s Royal Patron. Her Royal Highness will be supporting the charity’s vision of bringing thriving gardens to all the UK’s regional spinal injuries centres. As many people know, Princess Eugenie had corrective spinal surgery for her scoliosis when she was 12 years old at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH) in Stanmore, London.
Horatio’s Garden is a national charity that creates and funds beautiful gardens in NHS spinal injury centres and in the process also raises awareness of spinal injuries and the important role the spinal injury units play. The gardens provide an peaceful and stunning escape from the hospital ward for patients and their families. Spinal cord injuries are traumatic, life-changing events and patients often have little or no access to the outside world during their long hospital stays. However, research shows that being in contact with a natural environment contributes to an improved sense of wellbeing, which can have a positive impact on patient rehabilitation.
The charity is named after Horatio Chapple, a volunteer who had the original idea of creating a garden away from the wards for patients and their families. The charity has grown over the years with a large team of dedicated gardeners who do a fabulous job of creating and maintaining these sanctuaries. Behind the scenes are an amazing team of fundraisers, headed by Olivia Chapple, who work tirelessly raising the funds needed for these projects. At present Horatio’s Gardens are located at spinal injury units in Salisbury, Glasgow, Oswestry, Cardiff and Stoke Mandeville hospitals.
The news of the their new patron is extremely timely for Horatio’s Garden, as the charity has almost raised enough funds for work to begin on their latest garden – Horatio’s Garden London – which will be located within the London Spinal Cord Injury Centre at RNOH – where Princess Eugenie had her spinal surgery. The Princess has already visited Horatio’s Garden in Glasgow and has seen first-hand the impact of the charity’s work. Eugenie has committed to support the charity and hence helping to improve the lives of more families affected by spinal injuries.
For more information about Horatio’s Garden, fundraising events and how you can help please look on the following website:
Wwww.horatiosgarden.co.uk
