The Sick Children’s Trust is celebrating its long-standing partnership with Red Sky Foundation after receiving a generous £30,000 donation to support families staying at Scott House, its Newcastle ‘Home from Home’ located just minutes from the renowned Children’s Heart Unit at the Freeman Hospital.
The gift will help provide hundreds of nights of support for families with a seriously ill child in hospital, ensuring parents and carers can remain by their child’s side during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
Scott House eases the emotional and financial strain on families who must relocate to Newcastle – sometimes for many months or even over a year – while their child waits for a heart transplant or recovers from major surgery.
For Red Sky Foundation founder and CEO Sergio Petrucci MBE, the donation represents far more than financial support. It is a deeply personal commitment to a place that became a lifeline for his own family when daughter Luna underwent lifesaving open-heart surgery at The Freeman Hospital in 2015.
Sergio and his wife Emma stayed at Scott House throughout Luna’s treatment, giving them somewhere safe and comfortable to stay just moments away from their daughter while she received specialist care.
Now thriving – she recently joined her local Girl Guides group – Luna’s journey continues to inspire the work of Red Sky Foundation, which was established by Sergio and Emma following her treatment and has since transformed the lives of thousands of families across the North East and beyond.
Reflecting on the latest donation, Sergio said:
“Scott House will always hold a special place in our hearts because it was there for us when we needed it most. Having somewhere warm, welcoming and close to Luna while she underwent major surgery removed an enormous burden from our shoulders and allowed us to focus entirely on being there for her.
“When families arrive at The Freeman, many are facing the darkest days of their lives. Scott House is far more than a place to stay – it provides reassurance, comfort and a sense of normality when everything else feels uncertain.
“We are incredibly proud to support Scott House through this £30,000 donation and through our wider partnership with The Sick Children’s Trust. We firmly believe charities achieve more when they work together, and this partnership is a wonderful example of organisations coming together for the greater good of families and patients.”
Since its formation, Red Sky Foundation has become one of the North East’s most recognisable charities, raising millions of pounds to support babies, children and adults with cardiac conditions. Alongside funding life-saving equipment, facilities and aftercare services, the charity has installed hundreds of community defibrillators and delivered vital support to families across the region.
Its commitment to families staying at Scott House extends beyond financial contributions. The charity regularly provides family support packs, works closely with house staff to identify additional ways to help residents and has supplied practical items such as electric fans during recent spells of hot weather. Members of the Red Sky Foundation team also visit Scott House to meet families and better understand the challenges they face while their children receive treatment.
This close collaboration reflects the shared values of both charities and a mutual commitment to ensuring families receive the support they need throughout their hospital journey.
The Sick Children’s Trust runs ten ‘Homes from Home’ across the UK, providing a warm and welcoming place to stay for families with a seriously ill child in hospital. By keeping families together and close to their child’s bedside, the charity helps ease emotional and financial pressures at an incredibly stressful time.
Ayla Besser, Director of Fundraising at The Sick Children’s Trust, said:
“We are enormously grateful to Sergio, Emma and everyone at Red Sky Foundation for this incredible £30,000 donation and for the unwavering support they continue to show families staying at Scott House.
“What makes this partnership so special is that it is built on genuine understanding and lived experience. Sergio and Emma know first-hand how important it is for families to have somewhere safe and welcoming to stay while their child receives specialist treatment. Their commitment goes far beyond fundraising; they are passionate advocates for the families we support and are always looking for new ways to help.
“Red Sky Foundation has become a true partner to The Sick Children’s Trust. Together, we are helping families stay close to their seriously ill children when they need each other most, and we look forward to continuing this wonderful relationship for many years to come.”
To learn more about The Sick Children’s Trust, please visit www.sickchildrenstrust.org.
