EVEN though the country has recently been experiencing the heat, last weekend saw a touch of Christmas visit Basingstoke.

On Sunday, 19 August, Sebastian’s Action Trust held its annual Christmas in July party at its Basingstoke facility, The Bluebells.

The popular event takes place every summer and brings Christmas forward so that families of children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions can celebrate Christmas early.

Christmas in July was originally planned for July 29, but had to be postponed due to terrible weather.

The theme for this year’s event was a beach party. The Trust’s staff were helped by volunteers to ensure that everybody who came had a good time.

There were donkey rides, a pirate treasure hunt, facepainting, an inflatable helter skelter, games stalls, a sensory beach, puppet shows, and arts and crafts from the Creation Station.

Over the last few weeks, schools, businesses and community groups and individuals have been raising funds for the charity.

Schools, businesses and communities from all over the area, including Hampshire and Berkshire, have been helping to raise funds for the day.

The inspiration behind the Christmas in July campaign came from the Trust’s founder, Sebastian Gates, who died from childhood cancer on Christmas Eve 2003.

Jane Gates, OBE, Sebastian’s Action Trust’s CEO and Sebastian’s mother, said: “Christmas is a time of celebration and without Sebastian it will never be the same again.

“Sebastian loved Christmas and we know he would have loved the idea of celebrating Christmas in July, so we wanted to give other families the opportunity to join with us and make memories to last a life-time, even if that life is to be cut cruelly short.

“To see so many children and their families come to the Christmas in July party was fantastic.

“There was so much going on throughout the whole event and there was something for everyone.

“All the families, especially our supported children and their brothers and sisters had an amazing time and went away with so many happy memories.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who was involved in making the party such a success, especially to all the businesses, groups and individuals who raised money through fundraising.”

The Sebastian’s Action Trust provides support to families of seriously-ill children, from the diagnosis through to treatment and responding to their unmet needs.

They provide support in emotional, social, and practical ways, and the Trust has built a designated holiday home for children with life-threatening and life-limiting illnesses.

The Bluebells, in North Waltham, was where the Christmas in July event was held and is purpose-built as a place to offer respite to seriosuly ill children.