MORE than £50,000 - that is the incredible total our Guardian Angels appeal has now reached, in six months.

The Press Guardian Angels appeal was launched last October with the aim of raising £300,000 to transform high-dependency paediatric care at York Hospital.

A whole host of local fundraisers have been busy holding a wide variety of events - from coffee mornings, a cheeky naked butler, a swearing box, a ball - to help push our target up into the tens of thousands.

Now it has moved through the £50,000 barrier, with more cheques and ideas for raising cash continuing to roll in every day.

One of the biggest boosts to our appeal came earlier this year courtesy of the Angel Charity Ball, black-tie event held at York Racecourse.

Some 300 guests put on their glad rags to dance the night away, and the evening raised a massive £10,000 for our appeal.

The ball was organised by the Angel Charity Ball Committee, established last year by local businessman Peter Bebb, Anne Ma'aye, of Top Occazzions, and Chris Spooner, of Tadcaster-based CPI Officepoint.

Mr Bebb said: "I'm pleased that we can move the appeal along. We're doing another ball in December and hopefully we will learn from this one and make even more money."

Meanwhile, a race night held on Easter Monday in memory of heart patient Natalie Strickson - the 20-year-old from Haxby who died last year from a complication of her rare condition - has raised more than £3,000.

Martin Lyon, one of the organisers of the night, said it raised a hugely impressive total of £3,120.

He said: "It was a special privilege to help raise over £3,000 towards a children's special care unit for York hospital. I would like to thank the Lysander Arms for providing us with the venue free of charge. The atmosphere on the evening was amazing." Mr Lyon thanked firms which had donated to the event - Boots gave a luxury gift set, York Racecourse a County Stand badge and York City Knights a signed rugby shirt. He also thanked those who attended and helped organise it.

The Guardian Angels second charity ball will be held on December 1. For more details phone Anne Ma'aye on 01904 764452, or Peter Bebb on 656314.

So what is the Guardian Angels campaign about?

OUR Guardian Angels appeal aims to transform high-dependency pediatric care on York Hospital's children's ward.

By raising £300,000 we can improve life for the sickest children going into hospital and, where possible, ensure they can be treated in York, avoiding a distressing transfer elsewhere.

Your money will fund two life-saving high-dependency rooms with new, specialised equipment.

This unit would be the first of its kind in the region that could deal with youngsters arriving as emergencies.

These children could be suffering from illnesses including meningitis, septicemia, breathing difficulties, viral chest infections, obstructions of the voice box, severe asthma, bronchiolitis, convulsions, or coma and physical injury.

A specialist nurse will care solely for these high-dependency children and other staff will be trained to get the most out of the improvements.

Children would have immediate access to the right treatment instead of waiting for ventilators and monitors to be taken from other patients.

This major investment in care for children in York, North and East Yorkshire would help also keep patients' health care closer to home and family, minimising distressing transfers to intensive care units elsewhere.

Updated: 09:55 Monday, April 24, 2006