Tony Frobisher, Acorns’ newest Ambassador and Parent Carer Champion, knows only too well the work done by the hospice

ACORNS Children’s Hospice has been so important to our family. Our triplet daughters Jewel, Louisa and Milla were born 16 weeks premature in 2006.

Sadly, Jewel passed away after 17 days. Milla and Louisa survived against the odds, coming home after six months in hospital. Within a year Milla was diagnosed with spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy. Milla was unable to walk, talk and needed a feeding tube into her stomach.

Acorns offered Milla respite breaks from around two years old. She enjoyed regular stays at the Worcester Three Counties hospice.

A chance for Milla to enjoy the different activities, hydrotherapy pool and interact with the wonderful staff and volunteers. A break for my wife Rini and I from Milla’s 24-hour care.

In 2014 we joined the Acorns Triple Run 1km fun run, pushing Milla in her wheelchair, with her twin sister Louisa jogging along.

It was wonderful to see Milla smiling at the colour and noise and people cheering as we finished. We raised over £1,000 for Acorns.

In 2016, while visiting my wife’s family in Indonesia, Milla passed away suddenly from sepsis. It was an absolutely devastating blow. Milla was only 10. But Acorns were there for us, providing invaluable counselling and support.

I fundraised before we lost Milla and have continued since, raising over £7,000 with challenges including walking the length of the Malvern Hills and back (23.5 miles) in a day and 10,000 steps a day in July 2020, playing guitar and singing for 12 hours and cycling 207 miles in two days from Worcester to Bath and back.

Milla’s sister Louisa has done her own challenges, running around Worcester racecourse and climbing the Malvern Hills, despite being blind in one eye and partially sighted in her other.

I have just been appointed Parent Carer Champion for Acorns which I am very excited about.

I will continue to represent and support Acorns. Their work is vital to so many life limited children and their families, as well as bereaved families.

My next challenge? Another cycling or walking challenge for sure.

Perhaps you could become a fundraiser too?