IT was party time at York Hospital as these youngsters helped us celebrate the second birthday of our Guardian Angels Appeal.

For most of them, they had more than one reason to celebrate, because unlike on previous visits to the hospital, they were glowing with health.

These were the children whose bravery has inspired our readers to dig deep for our Guardian Angels Appeal, which aims to raise £300,000 for a new high- dependency unit on the children's ward.

Earlier this week, we crashed through the £200,000 barrier.

Project nurse Maureen Augey said: "It's so nice to see the children now they are well, coming back to enjoy themselves.

"We have seen them when they were really sick, and it makes it all worthwhile to see them today.

"We're now looking forward to the next party when we will have reached our target."

At yesterday's birthday bash, laughter filled the ward as children enjoyed games of musical bumps and pass the parcel.

We even had a giant cake donated by York baker, Fred Thomas, who knows just how important it is that we reach the £300,000 target.

Mr Thomas, who owns Fred's Home Bakery, said: "When my grandson, Alex, was born he had no oesophagus and had to be transferred to Leeds Hospital because York didn't have the equipment. His mother couldn't even go with him because she had just had a caesarean. It was terrible.

"He was there for three weeks and he had nine operations in his first 18 months."

Alex is now nine and showed little signs of his traumatic early days as he danced around the room to musical bumps.

Matron of the children's ward, Jill Crampton, said: "It's so exciting to have broken the £200,000 barrier.

"We'd like to thank everybody for all their efforts in getting us there and we're all ready for the final push to reach our target."

Gill Town, of Sherburn-in-Elmet, was at the party with her six-month-old grandson, Alfie.

Little Alfie baffled everybody when he turned completely blue and almost stopped breathing when he was just three-weeks-old.

He has been rushed back to York Hospital three more times since that first terrifying day and doctors are still doing tests to find out what is causing his problems.

Mrs Town said: "To think that they would be able to deal with almost anything in York when we get the high-dependency unit is fantastic.

"It will make such a difference if families can stay at York Hospital rather than having to go elsewhere.

"We were so thrilled to hear that the appeal has broken £200,000."


* Thank you to the hospital's play specialist, Rosie Smithson, and nursery nurse, Rachel Wilson, who put on the fun and games for the children at yesterday's party.