OUR Guardian Angels appeal has reached a major milestone - just in time for its second birthday celebrations today.

A £1,000 cheque from York Lions Club tipped us over the £200,000 barrier, bringing us closer to the £300,000 we need to fund a new high-dependency unit on the children's ward at York Hospital.

The appeal was launched two years ago today, and thanks to the dedicated support of our readers we are now two-thirds of the way there.

Guardian Angels project nurse, Maureen Augey, said: "That is brilliant. The fact that we've broken through £200,000 on our second birthday shows that we are well on track.

"It's fantastic that the public are still behind us, and I want to thank everybody for their continued support.

"The high-dependency unit is going to be so beneficial to the children of York.

"Nobody knows when their child or grandchild is going to need that facility, and it's so important that it's there in case they do."

Peter Whitaker, president of York Lions Club, said he was delighted to give our appeal the boost it needed to break through £200,000.

Members of the club raised the cash after walking 50 laps of York's Bar Walls for their 50th anniversary.

Mr Whitaker said: "It's fantastic news, and now we'll have to see what we can do about helping with the remaining £100,000."

Kevin Booth, editor of The Press, said: "We're thrilled to have a double reason for celebrating today.

"It's thanks to our readers that we're well on the way to reaching our target and we hope that everybody will continue to support us as we aim to reach £300,000 by our third birthday."

If you are holding a charity event, let us know about it so 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@ycp.co.uk.

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


* BAKER Fred Thomas will be baking a big cake for our appeal's birthday for the second year running.

The owner of Fred's Home Bakery, has an extra reason for supporting our appeal, as his nine-year-old grandson, Alex, was born without an oesophagus, and went through nine operations in his first 18 months.

We will be cutting the cake today, when we hold a party for some of the children whose courage has inspired backing for our appeal.


Angels' roll of honour

Birthday boy Malcolm Coward did not want any presents at his 70th birthday party and instead asked for donations - raising an impressive £770.

Meanwhile, the toddler group at Haxby and Wigginton Methodist Church has handed over £107 to our appeal.

Talented Jane Gray cooked up a feast at her home in Burnby and served smoked salmon bagels, raising £60 for our appeal.

And posties at Royal Mail's office in Leeman Road, York, did battle in a charity cricket contest, clocking up £225.

We would also like to thank the friends and family of Edith Ramsden, who donated £338.26 at her funeral.

Guests at Tony Banner's funeral contributed £146 and £426 was raised thanks to the friends and family of Charles Denton.

A collection at the funeral of Kenneth Hodgson raised £134.