Chance to make a mark

10:37am Wednesday 30th April 2008

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The search is on for a talented youngster to help put the finishing touches to The Press's Guardian Angels Appeal, as Nicola Fifield reports.

THE final countdown to the opening of York Hospital's new high-dependency unit for children has begun.

Building work got under way this week, and we are launching a last push to raise the remaining £50,000 we need to fund the new lifesaving facilities.

Stories of courageous children have inspired our readers to dig deep for The Press Guardian Angels Appeal.

Now we are looking for a talented youngster to design the plaque that will be unveiled at the new unit when it opens later this year.

Today, The Press is inviting children across York to enter a competition to come up with a winning design.

Our award-winning design editor, Lisa Cook, will judge the entries, with the hospital's deputy chief executive, Mike Proctor.

She said: "The designs must be simple, bold and bright. We don't need any words - what we are looking for is a hospital-themed picture that would cheer youngsters up when they are poorly."

The Guardian Angels Appeal, which was launched in October 2005, aims to raise £300,000 to fund two high-dependency rooms with state-of-the-art specialised equipment.

York Hospital will be one of the first district hospitals in the country to boast such a unit.

It will provide the very best care to children suffering from illnesses such as meningitis, breathing difficulties, viral chest infections, severe asthma, bronchiolitis, convulsions and coma.

When the unit is up and running, many more youngsters will be able to stay in York for their treatment, rather than having to be transferred further afield to cities like Leeds, Sheffield and Hull.

Mr Proctor said: "I am delighted to have been asked to help judge the plaque competition and it is a great way to get kids directly involved in this worthwhile project. It is great news that thanks to the generosity of the readers of The Press we have been able to start building work on the Guardian Angels project.

"One last big push and the target will be met and we will have a fantastic facility to improve care for children in York."

Any child under 16 who attends a school in The Press circulation area of York, North and East Yorkshire, is eligible to take part in the competition.

All designs must be sent with the entrant's name, age, school and a day-time contact number for family or school to Nicola Fifield, The Press Guardian Angels Appeal plaque competition, The Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN.

The deadline for entries is Tuesday, July 22. Designs must be drawn on A4 paper, with the longest sides of the paper at the top and bottom of the picture. Please do not fold your pictures.

Usual Newsquest (York) competition rules apply. The judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. We regret that your pictures cannot be returned.