Starbucks Church Street

To most people Harrison looks completely healthy. But on the inside, our powerful little boy is struggling. His muscles are deteriorating at an alarming rate. Because he has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. By the time he's a teenager Harrison will lose the ability to walk. Eventually he'll lose all muscle function in his body. Like all boys with Duchenne he'll die in his late teens or early twenties from heart or respiratory failure. One of the hardest things about being a parent of a child with a life-limiting disease is knowing that, one day, they won't be able to keep up with their friends. Or race around at home, like Harrison does - he adores chasing after his younger brother, William. Our goal is to stop Duchenne, or at least find a way to slow it down significantly, before it has a chance to dim the twinkle in Harrison's eye. Harrison was diagnosed in January 2011, a day that we will never forget - one blood test changed everything. Numb, we had to start down a path we never dreamt we would have to follow. We had to take those first steps that no one is ever taught. Our immediate thoughts, like all parents in this position, were to secure the best possible care for Harrison, and we are lucky to be close enough to the fabulous teams at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Having spoken to some of the best organisations in the world fighting Duchenne, it's clear that for the very first time there may actually be a chance of a major breakthrough. Over the past few years, scientists have made giant strides in gene therapy and molecular medicine, and pharmaceutical companies have begun investing in research that may well bring Duchenne therapies to market. We need your help to take advantage of this momentum. And make sure that there doesn't need to be another Harrison's Fund.

Within the Village, we endeavour to provide music and entertainment. Individual singers, pianists, stringed quartets, choirs, gentle chair exercise, magic, poems and readings. A selection of different things can inspire our residents to get together and of course all activities usually include refreshments and the chance to socialise and make new friends. Some residents are very frail, they may have limited sight or hearing, limited mobility, so having the ability to enjoy music and entertainment in a safe environment without having to travel is so important. If they are very ill, they have the choice to return to their room or home, if it all becomes too much for them.

Beyond our core medical care services at our two hospices, Shooting Star Chase works to make sure our supported children and their families can create as many happy memories as they can in the time they have. This year we are asking people to buy a unique Christmas gift - the gift of a moment a child with a life-limiting condition and their family will never forget. From time in our hydrotherapy pool to a memory box full of precious things, to a few invaluable hours of free time for parents offered by our hospice at home service,