'This charity means the world': Parents' hope for Acorns Hospice future
"This charity means the world to me."
That was the heartfelt message from one parent who needs Acorns Hospice to stay open in Walsall.
Joanne Golden relies on the charity's support to care for her 15-year-old daughter Isabel Young, who suffers with severe epilepsy.
Joanne, 48, from Streetly, is her daughter's full-time carer but also holds down a full-time job.
Having the charity at hand to help means Joanne can also spend quality time with her other daughter Eden, 12.
"Isabel has been using the service for over 10 year now just so I can get a bit of respite," she said.
"It means I can spend quality time with my other daughter, which most people take for granted.
"I am definitely backing the Express & Star's campaign to keep Acorns Hospice open.
"To keep the charity open would mean the world to me."
Joanne is just one of many parents who are praying that the charity, which provides world-class care, can continue running in the Black Country.
A gap in NHS funding plunged its future into doubt. However the charity won temporary reprieve when bosses announced it would campaign to raise £2 million, which the Express & Star is supporting.
How you can donate:
Text ACORNS5 to 70025 to donate £5*
Text ACORNS10 to 70025 to donate £10*
Visit acorns.org.uk/appeal
Phone: 01564 825 037
*With texts you will be charged your donation, plus your standard network rate. Acorns receives at least 98 per cent of your donation as it will incur a two per cent admin charge for this service. By texting, you are agreeing for Acorns to phone or text you to tell you about our work and how you can help. If you wish to donate and not hear from Acorns again, text ACORNS5 NO to 70025. For more information call 01564 825 037. Acorns Children’s Hospice registered charity no: 700859.
This would secure the future of Acorns - which provides nursing care to young people with life limiting or life threatening conditions - and potentially save 60 jobs at the Walsall branch.
The appeal has already received plenty of support and has generated interested from around the region, including from comedian Jasper Carrott and rock legend Tony Iommi.
The decision to fundraise £2m has given staff and volunteers a new sense of hope. They have grabbed the challenge with both hands in order to overcome this hurdle which could impact many children and families.
Fun day
At its headquarters off Walstead Road , Walsall, a Family Fun Day was held on Saturday to help raise money.
Initially the event was only planned to be a picnic on the grass but more people than expected were interested and bosses at the charity chose to hold a bigger event.
Food stalls, raffles, face-painting and story telling was held for children who were joined by their parents.
Volunteers and staff members were on hand to champion the cause and among them was 12-year-old Callum Bunce, who raised £2,000.
Callum organised a five-a-side football tournament, attended by children under 12, at Silverdale Football Club.
He said: "It was fantastic to raise such an amount for charity."
His aunty Diane Bunce, 42, from Yew Tree, added: "I am so proud of him, there was no words."
Among those showing their support at the event was Mark Lyttle, whose 11-year-old daughter Isabella was cared for by Acorns, before she lost her brave battle with cancer in April. He has been at the forefront of the campaign to save the hospice.
He said: "We know the impact they, Acorns Hospice, has had on us, and gave us more time with Isabella.
"She loved coming to Acorns and Acorns loved her. They gave us so many good times.
"For this service to close down, which supports so many families like it did mine, it doesn't bear thinking about."
Toby Mobberley, fundraising manager at Acorns, added: "This event is a demonstration of the support and feeling towards the hospice.
"A lot of the staff felt fed up before we knew there was a chance to keep the hospice open.
"Now there is a chance, we can make a difference ourselves rather than it being in someone else's hands."
