We're providing a 'home from home' for families of poorly children with our £30k donation

“Scott House will always hold a very special place in our hearts because it was there for us when we needed it most,” says Sergio Petrucci of Red Sky Foundation as the Sunderland charity makes a £30,000 donation to Scott House in Newcastle.

Red Sky Foundation has donated the money to support families staying at Newcastle’s ‘Home from Home’ run by The Sick Children’s Trust, helping ensure parents and carers can remain just moments away from their seriously ill child during treatment at the Freeman Hospital.

The donation will provide hundreds of nights of accommodation for families whose children are receiving specialist care at the renowned Children’s Heart Unit, reducing both the emotional and financial burden of being away from home while their child undergoes major surgery, recovers from treatment or waits for a heart transplant.

For Red Sky Foundation Founder and CEO, Dr Sergio Petrucci MBE (Hon), the donation is deeply personal.

Sergio and his wife Emma stayed at Scott House in 2015 while their daughter Luna underwent life-saving open-heart surgery at the Freeman Hospital.

Having somewhere close to stay allowed them to remain by Luna’s side throughout her treatment, giving them invaluable peace of mind during one of the most difficult times of their lives.

Today, Luna is thriving and her journey continues to inspire the work of Red Sky Foundation, which Sergio and Emma established following her treatment.

Since then, the charity has raised millions of pounds to improve cardiac care, fund specialist equipment, install hundreds of community defibrillators and provide practical and financial support to babies, children and adults living with heart conditions across the North East and beyond.

Sergio said: “Scott House will always hold a very special place in our hearts because it was there for us when we needed it most.

“Having somewhere warm, welcoming and only moments away from Luna while she underwent major surgery removed an enormous burden from our shoulders and allowed us to focus on what mattered most – being there for our daughter.

“When families arrive at the Freeman Hospital, many are facing the hardest days of their lives. Scott House is so much more than accommodation. It provides reassurance, comfort, friendship and a sense of normality when everything else feels uncertain.

“We are incredibly proud to make this £30,000 donation and continue building our partnership with The Sick Children’s Trust. We firmly believe that charities achieve far more when they work together, and by supporting one another we can make an even greater difference for families who need us most.”

Red Sky Foundation’s support for Scott House extends well beyond fundraising.

The charity regularly provides family support packs, works closely with the Scott House team to identify additional ways to support families, and has donated practical items including electric fans during periods of hot weather.

Members of the Red Sky Foundation team also visit families staying at Scott House, ensuring they remain connected to the people they support and understand the challenges they face throughout their hospital journey.

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.”