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Paul and Renate O’Donnell have kicked off their annual Woodnthings Christmas Fayre at their home in Cleeve, North Somerset. Running until 20 December, the couple have adapted the festive extravaganza in line with government guidelines and viewings will be by appointment only.

The creative couple will showcase many items made by themselves as well as other local craftspeople including handmade wood carvings, mirrors, decorations and cards. A percentage of takings will be donated to Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) and Cancer Research UK.

In previous years the couple have had up to 70

Bodmin based Johnny Hesnan recently completed a 55 mile ultra-marathon and has raised over £3000 to be donated to two local causes.

Johnny had originally signed up to take part in the Coast to Coast ultra-marathon which would have seen him run 63 miles from Dawlish to Minehead in July. Sadly due to Covid this event was postponed. Johnny’s second race option was also then cancelled leaving him with the tough decision of whether to wait until next year to take on one of these events or to put his training into practice and create his own route, which is exactly what he did.

Johnny explained why

Children’s Hospice South West’s (CHSW) annual Santas on the Run event is back but not as you know it! Taking place over the weekend of the 11-13 December, supporters will be able to choose their distance, route and their festive dress.

The annual festive fundraiser usually takes place on Bristol Harbourside, at Cornwall's Eden Project and RHS Garden Rosemoor in North Devon but the local children’s charity has taken the decision to hold it virtually this Christmas due to the pandemic.

Kiley Pearce, CHSW Events Fundraiser, said: “This year, Santas on the Run is going freestyle! Although we can

Lesley Milner, mum of Keira aged 5 months, is hoping to raise £35k for a host of charities that have supported them since Keira was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Lesley, who lives with her wife Claire and Keira’s brother, Austin in Longwell Green, Bristol, said: “On the 3rd of July 2020 when my daughter was only 8 weeks old we took her for her first vaccination. Three hours later our world was turned upside down. Our GP was worried about Keira and phoned the Bristol Children’s Hospital. We were called and told to take her directly and quickly to A&E, they did a CT scan and found a brain

A teenage girl from Cullompton who was bullied for having short hair has shaved it all off and raised more than £1,000 for Children’s Hospice South West.

Kisa Benson, 14, knew she’d be mocked for her radical new look but said raising money for the charity was ‘more important than a few mean comments’.

She said: “The charity means a lot to me so it was the right thing to do. You just need to keep your head held high and not let the bullies win.”

Brave Kisa decided to lose her locks to raise vital funds for the charity’s Little Bridge House children’s hospice, which supports her best friend’s

Charlton Farm children’s hospice based in North Somerset has benefitted from a new Princess 5000 bed thanks to the support of local charity The Axentis Michael Charitable Trust.

Charlton Farm are part of ‘The Children’s Hospice South West’ group who provide end of life care and support to families when they need it most. They aim to provide families with a safe haven they can relax and spend time together in, far removed from the stresses that come with terminal illness. They have eight child friendly rooms on site plus accommodation for parents and the rest of the family. Everyone is

An online art exhibition helping to raise money for Children’s Hospice South West has ‘gone live’ after taking up residence in a shop in Bath.

Art Gallery SW’s Online Bath Art Exhibition has been supporting CHSW throughout the pandemic and can now be viewed at a ‘pop-up’ exhibition in the shop at 23 Milsom Place until October 31.

It showcases the work of more than 100 emerging and established artists, with 25 per cent from the sale of each piece of artwork going to the charity, which supports hundreds of local children with life-limiting conditions and their families throughout the South West

Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) is asking people to Cook Eat Give and raise a few pounds for its three children’s hospices next month.

The charity is inviting people to host a dinner party in their social bubble or organise a virtual dinner party over Zoom during a special week of foodie fundraising from November 2-8.

CHSW Community fundraiser Laura Robertson said: “We’re inviting people to enjoy great food and company while raising a few pounds for local families who need our hospices.

“Your Cook Eat Give dinner party could be at home with those in your social bubble, or why not get

Hannah Chapman is publishing her book: Yellow Day to support others and raise funds for the Lily Foundation

Hannah Chapman from Truro lost her daughter, Maisie, to Mitochondrial disease in 2018 when she was just six months old. Eager to turn her loss into a positive, she is now self-publishing an illustrated book about her grief called Yellow Day, hoping that it will help others going through similar bereavements. Book sales will also raise vital funds for the Lily Foundation, a charity committed to supporting families affected by Mitochondrial disease.

Mitochondrial disease is an incurable

A Cornish company has designed and is producing unique crystal roses which will be able to contain ashes of your loved one in the stem. At the recent launch of the crystal rose they also announced their support for a local children’s charity that will benefit every time a rose is sold.

Daniel Rockall, of Cornish Crystal World, has spent the last eight years developing the Cornish Crystal Rose, a unique symbol of remembrance. The Cornish Crystal Rose is handmade by experienced artisans in Cornwall and features a hollow glass stem into which a sample of your loved-ones’ ashes are sealed.
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