AN APPEAL to build a children’s hospice has been given a £10,000 cash boost after being chosen for a national award.
West Yorkshire Forget Me Not Trust was handed the money after being nominated by readers of the Daily Mail as part of the £1m Children’s Charity Awards.
The awards – supported by the Royal Bank of Scotland – saw 4,000 good causes put forward.
A total of 90 were chosen – including the Huddersfield-based trust – to receive cash grants of £10,000 each.
Fundraising manger Mandy Barwick said: “When we received the news that we had been nominated to receive a donation from the Royal Bank of Scotland we were all very excited.
“Finally, when the news came through regarding our success, the team were delighted.
“Such a substantial donation will make a real difference to our fundraising success and take us yet another step closer to achieving our dream of a local children’s hospice.”
The trust was given planning permission last year to build the new £3m hospice and respite centre on land off Fell Greave Road, Brackenhall, for children with life-threatening illnesses.
The hospice will be open 365 days a year and will be offered completely free of charge to help families get the support they need in child-friendly surroundings.
Anne Luby, manager at RBS Halifax, said: “At Christmas time, the focus for many of us is very much on children. That’s why we decided to focus our annual £1m Christmas charity donation on organisations that support children going through difficult times.
“I am delighted that local charities like the Forget Me Not Trust have been chosen as winners and I am sure this award will give them a great start to 2008.”
