Bryony Aveyard charity fund reaching £20,000 (From York Press)

The Love Of Bryony - Wellchild charity fund reaching £20,000

8:03am Tuesday 14th July 2009 in News By Haydn Lewis, haydn.lewis@thepress.co.uk

A COUPLE who are raising money for a nurse following the death of their 11-year-old daughter are braced to go through the £20,000 barrier.

Bryony Aveyard, of Woodside Avenue, Burnholme, York, died of a brain haemorrhage last year.

After her death, her parents, Kath and Rob, launched the charity For The Love Of Bryony - Wellchild, which aims to raise £55,000 for a Wellchild nurse for the Yorkshire area who would help support sick children and their families in their own homes.

The couple have now reached £20,000, with recent events including a coffee morning that raised £913.53 at Heworth Methodist Church.

Meanwhile, a race night at Heworth Cricket Club hosted by Bryony’s aunt and uncle, Stephen and Debbie Armstrong, raised £646 towards the fundraising effort.

Bootham Junior School has joined the appeal and has so far raised £328.30 with a home clothes day while other events included a home clothes day at Wolgate College that raised £738.42.

An event called “Can’t sing, won’t sing”, led by Ruth McCartney at Hempland School, was also a great success, boosting the appeal by £329.

David Lloyd Gym, off Hull Road, York is supporting the charity.

The gym hosted a launch night on May 8 which included a talk from Wellchild and fun games to raise money. In total, the night raised £3,764.

David Lloyd York is supporting a programme of events in memory of Bryony. Mrs Aveyard said: “We are speechless at the generosity and kindness of people. We now are just pounds off £20,000 and that’s in two months - our £55,000 target is getting nearer.

“Michael Green, of Stockton Lane, did the Round The Islands Yacht Race and has so far raised over a thousand pounds and donations are still coming in, while next door at Stockton Lane they held an open garden and raised an amazing £2,005.33 and they still have donations coming too. Kath said the next event was a charity night and family barn dance at York Maze on July 31 at 7pm.

Email for tickets and more details: kath.aveyard@tiscali.co.uk or call 01904 422853; nikiturnbull@btinternet.com or phone 01904 413537.

Ticket prices are £28 for a family of four, £7.95 for adults, £6.95 for children, with under-threes going free.