Bumper £2 coins haul boosts Yorkshire Children's Hospices appeal

he biggest single donation to the Yorkshire Children’s Hospices Appeal so far has come from a generous couple from Otley, taking the total raised to nearly £6,000.

Barry Taylor had been collecting £2 coins from his small change for the past five years when he read about the fundraising for the three Yorkshire children’s hospices, Martin House in Boston Spa, Bluebell Wood in Sheffield and Forget Me Not in Huddersfield.

He and his wife Angela decided to support the year-long appeal, giving the bumper donation when he had collected 500 £2 coins.

Mr Taylor, a grandfather-of-four, said: “I am delighted to have found something so good to make a difference to.

“We have four grandchildren so my wife and I know very well how small treats do make a difference.”

The Yorkshire Children’s Hospices Appeal is aiming to raise £30,000 so the hospices can continue their excellent work supporting the families of nearly 1,000 children and young people each year.

Every year the hospices need to raise more than £13m in total because only 10 per cent of their funding comes from the Government.

Our appeal could make a huge difference by providing nursing care, a vital break or support at home for families in the most difficult situations.

Alison Wragg, community fundraiser at Martin House, said: “This tremendous donation from Barry and Angela is just fabulous.

“On behalf of all the families in Yorkshire who use the services of their local children’s hospice, I would like to say a massive thank you to them.

“While most of us hold on to our £2 coins to feed hungry car parking machines, they have put them to one side in their red treasure bag, saving them up to give to a good cause - and having read about our work in the Yorkshire Post, have decided to support the Yorkshire Children’s Hospice’s Appeal.”

The appeal is also being back by all Johnston Press publications in Yorkshire, with people from across the region urged to help raise much-needed funds.

• Donate to the appeal online. Or, send a cheque, made payable to Yorkshire Children’s Hospices’ Appeal, to: Kayla Lindsey, Yorkshire Post, No 1 Leeds, 26 Whitehall Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS12 1BE. You can also download our donations pack, containing all you need to know to help the appeal.

• Are you supporting the appeal? Tell us about it via social media using #ychappeal or email [email protected].