YORK mum Caroline Buchanan knows what it is like to have a child in hospital and that is why she is raising money for our Guardian Angels appeal.

Caroline, of Strensall, had her second child, James, last year but he spent his first few days of life in an incubator in York Hospital's Special Care Baby Unit after complications due to his birth by caesarean section.

James bounced back relatively quickly, but was in hospital again three months later after a meningitis scare.

That turned out to be a virus, and he is now a happy and healthy ten-month-old little boy.

But Caroline has not forgotten the help and support she found at the hospital's children's ward, and now she is repaying staff there by raising money to help other youngsters.

"They were absolutely fantastic," she said.

"For me, it was an eye opening exercise in how dedicated the staff were at York Hospital, and in my small way it's a chance to say thank-you.

"I think it must be incredibly distressing for people with sick children to be told they have to go to a hospital a long way away.

"I wasn't in that situation, but I could have been.

"You want your family to be together at a time like that.

"What we're trying to achieve made me realise how lucky I was that there was a place in York to look after James. That's why I'm very keen to do as much as I can.

"I think it's an incredible appeal."

Caroline is a consultant for a company called Pampered Chef, which gives people the chance to buy its products at kitchen "shows" hosted in people's homes.

Friends of the host come to the event and sample food cooked by a Pampered Chef consultant.

The company is organising a week's worth of fundraising in York for Guardian Angels to tie in with the World Cup.

There will be a Pampered Chef event at Creepy Crawlies children's adventure play site at Clifton Gate Business Park from 1pm to 4pm on June 10 the date of England's opener with Paraguay.

The afternoon will include cooking shows, including "salads and salsa", "chocolate frenzy", "cooking with children", and "delicious dips".

During the week from June 5 to 9, Caroline is inviting people in York to host kitchen shows in their homes, with a percentage of the takings going to our appeal.

They can also buy products on the Pampered Chef website during that week by logging on to www.pamperedchef.biz/carolinebuchanan.

To find out more phone Caroline on 01904 491996. Anyone can come to the Creepy Crawlies event.

To book tickets in advance, phone 01904 692221.