Heart art is Emilia’s lasting legacy
THE memory of brave tot Emilia Webb will live on through the artwork of youngsters at her local school in Lenham. Sadly, a rare heart condition claimed the life of Emilia at the age of three and a half last summer. Her devastated parents, Darren and Claire
Webb, of Ham Lane, Lenham, were so impressed with how she coped in hospital that they have set up a charity to foster the emotional wellbeing of other young sufferers. Claire, a teacher, joined forces with Lenham primary school on a project to design posters that could be converted into “well done” certificates to be presented to patients at Evelina Children’s Hospital in London. That is where Emilia spent her last three months – it was also where she had open-heart surgery two days after being born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which meant only the right side worked. The charity – Emilia’s Little Heart Foundation –
has already raised £4,000 from events ranging from a rugby match to a raffle at Lenham’s Christ- mas lights switch-on. Claire said: “I saw first-hand how children are emotionally affected in hospital.” She has sev- eral ideas for schemes to help toddlers get through their hospital experience, such as scrap- book diaries and weekend packs, and is looking
KATIE, the daughter of local county councillor Jenny Whit- tle, was born in the same month as Emilia, – January 2008 – and the pair attended Bourne Musicians together on Fridays in Hollingbourne. After Emilia died last June,
Jenny encouraged her mum Claire to set up a charity in her daughter’s memory.
EmiliaWebb and (right) poster win- ner Emily Kershaw with KCC chairman Paulina Stockell and Emilia’s mother Claire
for sponsors. Meanwhile, she has launched a website,
www.emiliaslittleheart.org.uk and local print firm, Lotus, is producing a free batch of certifi- cates based on the pupils’ posters. Overall winner was Emily Kershaw’s rainbow design. Claire told a special assembly: “I know Emilia would have chosen that one.” KCC chairman Paulina Sockell, a former school
head of art, presented book prizes. Claire said her daughter “absolutely loved” books. “She had trouble breathing as her oxygen level was only 80%, so reading was something she could do from a young age.” Darren Webb is head of West Malling primary school.
Jenny told the Downs Mail: “Emilia was a very special lit- tle girl who lived her life to the full. She liked to be at the centre of things and had many friends. “I am really proud to be a trustee of Emilia’s Little Heart Foundation to help raise much-needed funds to pro- vide children suffering from
life-limiting conditions and disabilities with exciting ac- tivities in hospital and to sup- port their families during a very difficult time. “Emilia’s family have worked hard to raise funds for leisure activities, facilities and equipment so that the children have the chance to be children every day. ”
Tree is ‘leaning
towards road’ ALFRED Johnson has ap- plied to fell a protected silver birch tree at Tithe Barn, The Street, Detling. According to the applica-
tion form: “Mr Johnson has two 40ft silver birch trees in his front garden that have been planted close together and consequently one is smaller and weaker than the other and is leaning towards the road. “For safety reasons he would like to remove the weaker of the two trees and reduce the other by 20%. There is also a 6ft conifer in the front garden, which has been hacked in the past and is therefore unsightly and needs to be removed.” Maidstone Council will de- cide on the application.
To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330
East 13
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64