A CHILD support worker is appealing to Dorset Echo readers to help youngsters whose lives are marred by illness.

Every 30 minutes, a child loses a parent to cancer, and countless more lose grandparents, aunts, uncles and siblings.

Jo Sharkey, who works for Weldmar Hospicecare Trust, aims to help them, from the moment of diagnosis and through the process of bereavement.

She said: “I would be lying if I said it was not emotional.

“But all I can do is try to make a difference, and if I can do that, then it is worth it.”

The Echo is backing the charity’s Go for Gold campaign, which has seen kind-hearted readers challenge themselves in countless ways to raise money.

But more fundraisers are needed to support the free services offered to sufferers and survivors of cancer and other conditions, and their families.

Ms Sharkey works with children aged between three and 18, though she stresses there is no upper age limit if a youngster wants to continue seeing her.

She said: “What I do depends on the age of the child and their relationship with the sufferer.

“If the child is very young, they won’t have strong memories of their relative when they are older, so we work on creating memories by using books, taking photos, or collecting sweet wrappers.

“We get the patient involved as well.

“It is hugely important for the child to have that memory of working with their relative to create something they can keep.”

Boxes of keepsakes, and books with messages from the patient are very popular, she adds.

“I had one girl who just wanted a picture of the book her mum used to read to her when she was little.”

Part of her job can also be to break the news that someone is dying to a child.

She added: “It is hard to tell a four-year-old that daddy will not be coming home.

“But you have to be honest and answer their questions.

“They know when something is wrong. It is a sad lesson to learn, but the earlier a child learns, the better.”

SET YOURSELF A CHALLENGE

TO get involved in the campaign and help support sufferers all over Dorset, just think of a challenge to set yourself. This could be anything from a cake-eating session to a sporting achievement. Then simply fill out the form in Monday's Dorset Echo and send it to Matt Smith, Weldmar Hospicecare Trust, Joseph Weld Hospice, Herringston Road, Dorchester, DT1 2SL.

Alternatively, call 01305 261800 or visit www.weld-hospice.org.uk/goforgold Anyone raising more than £50 will be invited to a special awards ceremony in October.