Guardian Angels appeal nears its target

IF THERE is anyone who understands why our Guardian Angels appeal is so important, it is Jennie Town.

Earlier this year, she endured a terrifying ordeal when her son, Alfie, who was three weeks old, turned blue.

He was rushed to York Hospital, where medics at first thought his condition might be meningitis because he had a rash that would not go away. But he continued to go downhill, and had to be put on a drip and be given oxygen.

Since then, Alfie, who is now nine months old, has had to go back to hospital six times.

After a series of scans, doctors now believe the problem might be some form of kidney reflux, which prevents him from emptying his bladder fully.

The good news for Alfie is that for the last eight weeks he has been in much better health.

"He's had a bit of a rough time, but he's doing really well at the minute," said mum Jennie, a dance teacher, of Sherburn-in-Elmet.

Fortunately, Alfie did not have to be transferred from York to another hospital to get high-dependency care. But Jennie can imagine what it would have been like if he had had to be. "It's the last thing you want when your child is ill," she said.

That is why she is such an enthusiastic backer of our Guardian Angels appeal.

The appeal aims to raise £300,000 for a new high-dependency unit for York Hospital's children's ward - and will allow many more very sick children to be treated in York rather than having to be transferred to cities such as Leeds.

"That will be so much better for everybody," Jennie said. "You just never know when you are going to need it."

It has been a fantastic 2007 for our appeal.

When the year began, we had yet to reach £130,000. By the end of 2007, thanks to the efforts our readers and other fund-raisers, we have raised more than £210,000. Keep this up, and there is a chance we will hit our target by the end of next year.

Francine Clee, assistant editor of The Press, said it had been a marvellous effort by all who had contributed.

"It is all down to you, our readers," she said. "It is thanks to your generosity, your hard work, your imagination and sense of fun when organising charity events, that we have made such fantastic progress towards our goal this year.

"Another big push in the coming year and we will be there. And once the new unit is open, it will make a huge difference to the way sick children are treated."

The fundraising year

This year's fundraising efforts got off to a flying start.

In January, Tim Hornsby, manager of York music venue Fibbers, hosted a fundraising gig for Guardian Angels after his grandson, William, came down with meningitis. Meanwhile, York band Huge collected donations while playing in the city centre.

In February, Yves 2 beauty salon raised £200 through an open evening and raffle, staff at The Press raised £97.45 by eating cake and the York branch of furniture shop Habitat held a lucky dip and raffle during a night to launch a new range of children's goods.

By March, Royal Mail workers were getting their boots dirty in a charity rugby match, Leia lingerie shop, in Spurriergate, donated £1 from every sale made in one weekend to Guardian Angels, and York estate agency Hunters donated a £500 cheque it won in recognition of its public-spirited work.

In April, Miss York contestant Kelly-Anne Astbury walked the 50 miles between the Minsters of York and Beverley, and the York Breathe Easy group held a large jumble sale in Sheriff Hutton.

In May, Yorkshire's Hospital Heartbeat Appeal gave us £11,500 to pay for a new vital signs monitor at York Hospital and pledged to raise cash for another, Patricia Markwick welcomed people into her garden in Acomb and Miss York contestants raised almost £2,000.

In June, The Cutting Station For Men, in Walmgate, gave free hair cuts for a day in exchange for a donation to our appeal, and diamond couple Ronald and Joyce Blissett raised £345 for Guardian Angels and £435 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance at a party to celebrate 60 years of marriage.

In July, transport operator First York sponsored a football and family fun day at Acorn Rugby Club, and Heartbeat - which raises money for cardiac equipment - organised a golf day at Fulford Golf Club.

In August, big-hearted Jenny Bullock, aged 12, sold all her toys to raise £50 for the appeal, while Shaun Neads - whose three-year-old-son, Charlie, survived a collapsed lung - cycled a gruelling 85 miles through the North York Moors, and Lisa Addinall - whose two-year-old daughter Evie was rushed to York Hospital with pneumonia - raised £350 by wearing her wedding dress at Tesco.

In September, drinkers across the county toasted Guardian Angels by sipping pints of Yorkshire Blonde.

The limited edition beer was brewed in honour of Miss York Naomi Smith and Miss England Georgia Horsley, and raised £500 which was split between The Press Guardian Angels Appeal and Yorkshire Air Ambulance. The same month, staff at York's Bengal Brasserie sacrificed a day's wages to boost our appeal and raised £1,080.

By October, little Harry Griffiths was planning his sixth birthday party at Dunnington Sports Club and asking for donations to Guardian Angels rather than presents. His generosity raised £140. At the same time, pilots at RAF Linton-on-Ouse went head-to-head in a staff navigation competition and raised more than £700.

When November arrived, masked guests danced in Viennese elegance at the third Guardian Angels Ball at York Racecourse, and netted at least £5,000, while visits to the grotto at The Willow Farm Shop, in Wigginton Road, generated more donations.

This month's efforts have included a fundraising race meeting in the halls of York Crown Court, a group of York freemasons enjoying a game of Irish bingo, the third Guardian Angels' Christmas Carol Service in St Denys' Church, in Walmgate, the Community Carol Concert at York's Barbican Centre and collections before shows of Cinderella at the Grand Opera House.

What people have said about Guardian Angels

"When Paige was so badly ill, she had to travel to Leeds because there was no high-dependency unit in York, and it made us realise how desperately the city needs one. It's absolutely crucial - our own experience proves that."

Charlotte Southren, whose 16-month-old daughter Paige's heart stopped beating three times and her brain failed on nine occasions when she battled meningitis.

"If she'd needed high-dependency and had to go to Leeds it would have been dreadful. The sooner they get all the equipment at York Hospital, the better. The staff there really deserve the best. They all care so much about the children and we'd like to thank everyone at the hospital for helping us."

Samantha Palmer, whose two-year-old daughter Edie had meningitis in October

"We know what it feels like to have to go to a hospital that's not your local one. It was quite scary going somewhere completely new, where we were away from all our friends."

Tracey Ruddle, who was transferred to Halifax Hospital to give birth because there were no intensive care cots available in York

"It's been a very rocky first six months, but the staff at York Hospital have been outstanding. The nurses are brilliant. They can't do enough for you and it's so nice to be able to give something back."

Jennie Town, whose baby son, Alfie, almost died aged three weeks

"When we heard about the Guardian Angels campaign we thought it was a fantastic idea because with Savanna we had to go back and forth to hospital in Leeds a lot. It might have helped us with Savanna if they'd have had a unit like that."

The granddad of baby Savanna Roe, who died in April of a disease so rare doctors do not have a name for it.

"Getting these high-dependency facilities at York is so vital. It would mean parents would not have to go to Sheffield and that would make such a difference. They say one-in-eight babies are born needing special care, and that just shows how much York needs this."

Debbie Hawkins, whose son, Alfie Luckhurst, survived three brain haemorrhages and eight life-saving operations but, because York Hospital did not have the equipment he needed, was transferred to Sheffield.

What's it all about?

THE Press Guardian Angels appeal aims to raise £300,000 for a new high-dependency unit for York Hospital's children's ward.

The money will fund two life-saving high-dependency rooms with new, specialised equipment.

It will allow many more youngsters to be treated in York rather than having to be transferred further afield, to cities such as Leeds.

This unit would be the first of its kind in the region that could deal with youngsters arriving as emergencies.

These children could be suffering from illnesses such as meningitis, septicemia, breathing difficulties, viral chest infections, obstructions of the voice box, severe asthma, bronchitis, convulsions or coma and physical injury.

A specialist nurse will care solely for these high-dependency children and other staff will be trained to get the most out of the improvements.

Children would have immediate access to the right treatment instead of waiting for ventilators and monitors to be taken from other patients.

How can you help?

To reach our goal of raising £300,000 we still need your help.

Another £90,000 is needed to reach our total. All of our readers can be involved, either by organising or taking part in a fundraising event, or simply making a donation yourselves. Whether your contribution is big or small, every pound you raise brings us nearer our target.

If you want to make a donation, or have money you raised through a charity event to contribute, please send cheques or postal orders, made out to The Press Guardian Angels Appeal, to: Accounts, The Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN.