SERIOUSLY ill children at York Hospital will soon be able to benefit from state-of-the-art new equipment in the biggest boost yet for our Guardian Angels appeal.

The Hospital Heartbeat Appeal, which raises money for cardiology equipment in Yorkshire's hospitals, has donated £11,500 which is being used to buy a vital signs monitor for York Hospital's new high-dependency children's unit.

The charity has pledged to donate the same sum again, which will pay for another monitor, making its total donation a massive £23,000.

The cash is a huge boost for our campaign which is raising £300,000 to pay for the new unit. It means the total amount we have now raised has shot up to more than £176,000.

Guardian Angels project nurse Maureen Augey explained that the monitors would be placed in each of the two rooms in the new unit.

They will be used to check vital information on very sick children, such as their heart rate and blood pressure.

Maureen said: "Any child who's seriously ill will be attached to the monitor. It's an up-to-date, clear monitor. We'll start using it straight away.

"This is very good news. It will be really helpful."

Volunteers who run the Heartbeat appeal became aware of our Guardian Angels campaign after being contacted for a small donation by staff from McMillans bar, in York, when they raised £16,000 for our appeal in a giant fundraising effort last year.

The charity felt our cause was such a worthy one that they decided to donate both monitors to our unit.

Alec Bloom, chairman and founder of the Hospital Heartbeat Appeal, said: "We feel we'd like to be seen to be doing things in York as much as we do in other areas of Yorkshire. We thought the appeal was brilliant - the fact that babies and young children are going to benefit from this is very important. We don't normally focus on dealing specifically with children - this is the ideal opportunity to help the requirement that's there for children as much as for anybody else."

The Heartbeat appeal holds fundraising events throughout the year to raise money for hospitals.

In July, it will be holding a golf day in York for the first time, which will help raise the £11,500 needed to fund the second vital signs monitor for Guardian Angels.

Mr Bloom said: "This is an ideal opportunity for golf enthusiasts to be part of our fundraising activities."

The event includes a dinner, auction and raffle. It is being held at Fulford Golf Club, on July 19, and local teams are being urged to enter.

Anyone who wants to take part and help raise funds, should phone golf director Gary Pearce on 01904 413579.