Karen'S Big Smiles Charity Trust

Karen’s Big Smiles Charity Trust aims to help improve the lives of local young adults who are living with a life-limiting condition.

Karen’s Big Smiles Charity Trust became a registered charity on May 28th 2011. The charity was set up in memory of our 1 in a million friend Karen Jenkins who, during her battle with PMP, found that there is a lack of specific support for independent young adults who wish to remain so for as long as possible.
Karen’s initial wish was to raise enough money to purchase and donate a syringe driver to Iain Rennie. This simple piece of equipment would enable patients to self-administer their pain relief in their own surroundings. We then felt there was a need which we could address. Through applications made via charities such as Iain Rennie, Marie Curie, or the South Bucks Hospice, we feel we can support people with time, equipment or donations. We will use outside agencies to assist us in making decisions on applications.
Karen was determined, independent, funny and ever so slightly zany. She worked hard in her job as an ITU nurse and continued to do so despite her illness, applying herself in other ways to help the hospital, staff and patients when the chemotherapy meant that she could not work on the ward itself.
Karen made us smile and we aim to share her philosophy with others.