FUNDRAISERS from far and wide have been taking our Guardian Angels appeal to their hearts - as it tops the £130,000 mark.

Our appeal total has now reached another £10,000 milestone, reaching £130,970.86.

That includes contributions worth hundreds of pounds which have been raised for our appeal after it attracted the attention of people who live many miles away.

Robert Scott, from Seaburn, Sunderland, has now named Guardian Angels as the charity of the year on behalf of the sheltered accommodation for the elderly he runs in the area.

Robert said he decided to support Guardian Angels after hearing about it through friend Peter Bebb, a York businessman who has helped raise thousands for the appeal.

Robert, 51, who used to live in York, said: "I've persuaded our tenants that we should adopt Guardian Angels as our charity this year. As the year progresses we'll do anything we can think of.

"I've always raised money for charity. As long as it's a good cause, that's what matters isn't it?"

On Boxing Day, Robert's two teenage children and their friend braved the freezing waters of the North Sea raising £170 for Guardian Angels in the process.

Robert raised more money selling Guardian Angels calendars and Christmas cards - produced by York's Angel Charity Ball committee - in his home town.

Staff at Nunthorpe Primary School, in Middlesbrough, raised more funds by selling calendars, which feature young relatives of medics who work at York Hospital. One of the calendars has even made it as far south as Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital in London.

Meanwhile, over in Leeds, Faraday Packaging Partnership - an organisation run by the University of Leeds - has donated £500 to Guardian Angels.

Managing director Dr Walter Lewis said in a letter to The Press: "Instead of sending corporate Christmas cards to our network of industrial members and academic partners, we look to support a local charity or appeal that is doing excellent and supportive work to improve and transform the lives, care and comfort of the local community.

"Please accept our small donation for your appeal, which seems to be going from strength to strength. We feel sure that many children and their families will benefit from the extra, much improved facilities and care in the region."

Guardian Angels project nurse Maureen Augey praised fundraisers from far away who had got behind the campaign.

"I think it's nice that people from out of the area see the importance of this unit and want to support us," she said. "It doesn't have to be local, everybody is concerned with the provision of the NHS and the provision for children."