ACORNS Children’s Hospice is marking 25 years as a charity, by saying thank you to the Alcester community for all its help over the last two years since the launch of its High Street shop.

The charity raises money to help life limited and life threatened children and their families, and since it launched it has helped eight Alcester families receive care and support at its hospice in Birmingham.

Chief executive David Strudley, said: “Acorns relies on voluntary donations and fundraising for the majority of the income needed to provide specialist palliative care, so we simply wouldn’t have been able to help those eight local children and families without the ongoing support of the local community.

“We know from our records that in the last 25 years individuals, groups, organisations and businesses in Alcester have helped us to the tune of more than £182,000. At our current running costs of £750 per child per day, that’s the equivalent of over 240 days of care for local life limited children.

“This could have been via loose change in a collection tin, a bake sale in the church hall, dress down day in the office, a school concert, running a marathon or even trekking across a desert. The ways that people find to support Acorns are endless and never cease to amaze and humble us.”

The shop in Alcester has enjoyed two years of custom from local shoppers to help raise money for the charity.

Mr Strudley added: “It’s not just financial support that we want to recognise and say thank you for, Acorns depends on an army of volunteers giving up their time to help out in the hospices, shops and out and about in the community, including individuals from Alcester. Without them, we simply wouldn’t be able to do so much valuable work.

“It’s been wonderful to be able to reflect on the last 25 years and see how many children and families we’ve been able to help with the support of the local community.

“But it’s more important than ever to look forward and make sure we can continue to provide a lifeline to families facing the huge emotional, physical and financial challenges that come with caring for a life limited or life threatened child. Ensuring we can offer these children specialist palliative care has always been our priority.

“On behalf of everyone at Acorns, I extend a big thank you to the Alcester community and appeal to supporters past, present and future to make Acorns a part of their plans for 2014 in whatever way they can.”