A BRAVE three-year-old, whose life was tragically cut short by a rare condition, has inspired a fish and chip shop to raise £600 for The Press Guardian Angels Appeal.

Poppleton Road Fish Bar, in York, held a Christmas raffle in aid of our appeal - with all money going towards life-saving high-dependency facilities for children at York Hospital.

The shop's owner, Margaret Garnett, knows better than anybody how desperately York Hospital needs these facilities, after losing her great nephew, Isaac Blake, to toxic shock syndrome in January 2006.

She said: "Staff at York Hospital did everything they could to save him, but he needed to be transferred to Leeds Hospital because they didn't have the facilities at York.

"He died while he was in theatre at York Hospital being prepared for transfer. All the family were devastated. Isaac was such a lovely little boy.

"What happened, makes you realise how much we need all these things in York that we haven't got. There are so many children that are getting taken away from York and I'm all for raising money for any equipment that might help to save lives."

Isaac was born with a club foot and had to wear shoes with a special metal bar to help move his foot into the correct position.

When he was three, he underwent surgery at Leeds General Infirmary, but a few days later, after he had returned home, Isaac became very poorly with hot, flu-like symptoms and reddening skin.

At York Hospital, doctors performed tests to establish what could be wrong with the youngster, including a lumbar puncture at the bottom of his spine.

But Isaac did not improve and despite all the efforts of medics to save him, he died.

The Guardian Angels Appeal aims to raise £300,000 to fund two life-saving high-dependency rooms for children with new, specialised equipment.

It will mean many more youngsters can be treated in York rather than having to be transferred further afield, to cities like Leeds.

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. If you want to make a donation to our appeal, send cheques or postal orders made out to The Press Guardian Angels appeal, to Guardian Angels, The Press, 76/86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN.