the evie dove foundation – local charitable support

The Evie Dove Foundation is a charity that supports sick children by sponsoring the education and training of paediatric specialists across the health sector.  These specialists become Heroes for the charity and are there to help and support children and their families when they most need it.  There’s a Big Coastal Sponsored Walk each year in September from Hythe through to Folkestone, and the charity receives a lot of support from the local community.  Folkelife met with Trustee Dan Hulme to find out why he has chosen to be involved with the charity.

“I met Evie’s parents, Katie and Howard, about three years ago.  Sadly, I didn’t get to meet Evie when she was alive, but the energy and legacy of what she has left behind is truly beautiful. Katie and Howard have had to deal with a huge tragedy in their lives, but instead of turning to despair, they have created this amazing charity.  I always say that kindness should not be monitised, but it should be valued.  This is what they have done, in such a beautiful way.  The organisation is set up to support paediatric health care professionals in training and education, to then support children who are ill, and their families. 

“You have to evidence your kindness throughout the process.  The people they support are called Heroes.  And some of these Heroes even go on to raise funds to create more Heroes, and more support for children and families.“

funding and fundraising

“There are two elements to the charity.  There’s obviously the fundraising that needs to be done, to be used to support the Heroes.  Then Callie, Evie’s aunt and Howard’s sister works for the NHS.  She heads up a committee with two other trustees who receive applications from all sorts of people across the NHS and the wider healthcare system.  We have psychologists, allergy specialists, physiotherapists, and professionals involved across paediatric healthcare!  They put their case to the committee for funding to forward their PhD, or Masters, or to go to a symposium or a seminar.  It’s about furthering people’s education, so they can go on to help others. 

“The kindness element comes in because you need to show how you are helping people now, and how this education will help you help more people in future. It’s effectively a demonstration of kindness; you can have letters from patients, peers and managers which give this character reference that shows how kind you are.  This is someone we want to be a Hero to our children, so it’s wonderful to see.  And it is one of the best charities I work with, it’s so exciting to be a part of it.”

sponsored walk

The Evie Dove Foundation organises a Big Coastal Walk and Little Canal Walk every year.  Starting from Hythe, and walking along the Royal Military Canal, the 16 mile walk ends on Folkestone Seafront in September.  This has been supported by other local charities such as the Roger De Haan Charitable Trust, Saga, Holiday Extras, The Radnor Arms.  Sign up for the walk in good time, and join in a wonderful community event.

The charity has been supported by Rocksalt in charity lunches where famous sports personalities talk and answer questions to guests.  The next event is on February 27th 2026 with Sir Jason Kenny, Britain’s greatest Olympian in attendance.  Tickets are available here.

the heroes

Dan Hulme continues: “The charitable idea came about when one of the first people who helped Evie through some initial treatment needed funding to complete his training to become a doctor.  From then on, sometimes people have had repeat funding, and sometimes it’s a one off.  Most recently, there’s a lady called Amber who’s become one of our Heroes.  She lost her husband and her son to the same illness, but has set up a support group to help those going through what her family went through. It’s her way of giving back something, and she is a wonderful person. 

“I think it’s rare these days that you find something so special.  I don’t want to make kindness a commodity that we can trade, but I do think it is something that should be celebrated.  It’s incredible that Katie and Howard, and their network and everyone who supports them have managed to create something like this.  Evie’s legacy has truly lived on throughout so many different areas.  It’s quite overwhelming how incredible this can be, and how much they have raised just over half a million pounds in 3 years,  in such a short space of time, and over 250 Heroes.”

To find out more about the charity and how to support it, click here.