The Sophie Rolf Trust, Kissy Puppy
Bembridge Harbour's Nominated Charity (reg charity 1156155)

Beautiful little Sophie Rolf lost her valiantly fought battle against an inoperable brain tumour at the end of 2013 when she was just 6 years old.   Her KissyPuppy fund was initially set up to support Sophie and her family, helping with travel costs to the mainland, equipment and creating magical experiences and memories. 

Sophie's journey, through treatment including neuro and central line surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, numerous MRI, CT scans and many other tests, highlighted to her family the limited healthcare options available on the Isle of Wight for children with life shortening conditions. There was no specialist children's hospice on the Island - respite and end of life care was a 3 hour journey away in Winchester. 

Early on in her treatment, Sophie herself decided she wanted to help other children and that's exactly what she did, firstly raising £10,000 for a designated area within the Island's Mountbatten Hospice for children and their families. Towards the end of her short life, Sophie opened the Children's Rooms at the Hospice and had already started on her next project - a playground within the grounds.

Sophie's courageous family pledged to continue what she started.  Their registered charity, The Sophie Rolf Trust - KissyPuppy, joined forces with the Hospice, local NHS and the Community Nursing Team to help support, develop and improve existing provision on the Island for children and their families. 

Their achievements include the initial funding of the Hospice rooms including specialised medical equipment, the children's playground, funding a Schools Project (involving primary schools visiting the Hospice, educating children and parents, and hopefully altering perceptions).  When the Hospice rooms are used, the cost for one child/family can be in excess of £20,000.  

In 2016 an Island-wide Bereavement Service was launched which the charity continues to fund - aimed at children and young adults, but assisting anyone affected by bereavement, with its services sadly in high demand.  2 specially adapted vehicles have been purchased by the charity, and in 2025 a new van was added, enabling respite nurses to take children out and about, and children and their families are sent on weekend days out eg to Legoland, Chessington and the circus.  Christmas and Summer Parties are held and parcels are sent to Island children undergoing treatment on the mainland.   All this creating wonderful, magical experiences and memories.

Since 2017, Harbour users, customers and visitors, have helped us to raise over £43,770 and we will once again be asking for support during 2026 for this truly wonderful charity.   

Thank you to everyone for your generosity
Fiona, Malcolm and the Harbour Team 

For more information: www.kissypuppy.co.uk
facebook.com/KissyPuppy