THE Press’s Guardian Angels Appeal has gained official charity status – and taken on a new name.

Following the success of our £300,000 campaign to build a new high-dependency unit for children at York Hospital, the appeal has now been transformed into a charity.

Lives of young patients are already being saved, but to make sure the unit remains state-of-the-art, donations are still needed to help with its upkeep.

The charity, called Guardian Angels York, will enable fundraising for the new unit to continue into the future.

Maureen Augey, project nurse for the new high-dependency unit, said: “It’s wonderful that even though the appeal with The Press has ended, people are still taking this to heart and want to carry on supporting the unit.

“We have treated 59 patients in the new unit since it opened in August and it is making such a difference to the care we are able to give.

“Already this December, we have had 13 patients. These were children mainly with respiratory problems and infections, but also meningitis.”

Maureen’s partner, Peter Bebb, is one of three trustees responsible for running the charity.

He said: “Everybody wants the best facilities for their children and doing this was a way I could give something back to the community.

“The unit is now up and running, but there will be a need to replace equipment and keep staff fully up-to-date with the latest care standards and technology.”

A new website for the charity has gone live today, which, from next month, will enable people to make donations online.

It has been designed for free by Paul and Julie Hodgson, of Yortech – a technology support business based in Clifton Moor, York.

Maureen said: “We are so grateful to Paul and Julie for giving up their time to create this website. It will be a wonderful resource for keeping people up-to-date with fundraising events and how the money is being spent.”

Today, tickets go on sale for a Moulin Rouge ball, which will take place at York Racecourse on March 28 in aid of Guardian Angels.

Can-can dancers will be on hand to entertain guests and one of the star raffle prizes will be a pair of tickets to see a show at the Moulin Rouge in Paris.

Tickets cost £55 each, or £500 for a table of ten, including a drinks reception, three-course dinner and entertainment.

Peter, who runs an insurance consultancy business in Huntington Road, would also like to hear from anybody who would like to donate raffle or auction prizes.

For more information, phone Peter on 01904 679737.


Charity changes

Name: Guardian Angels York.

Official charity number: 1127161.

Trustees: Peter Bebb, Dr Robin Ball (consultant pediatrician at York Hospital) and Mike Miller.

Phone number: 01904 679737.

Email address: info@guardianangelsyork.org.uk

Website address: guardianangelsyork.org.uk

How to donate money: Send cheques made out to Guardian Angels York, to Guardian Angels, Foss House, 271 Huntington Road, York, YO31 9BR, or donate online when the facility is up and running next month.


* If you are holding a fundraising event for Guardian Angels York, let us know about it. We can publicise it in The Press to make sure as many people as possible support your efforts. Phone Nicola Fifield on 01904 653051 or email nicola.fifield@thepress.co.uk.