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A Taunton author is hoping a new book inspired by his severely disabled daughter will help bag a £20,000 literary prize to help the two charities that have supported him and his family.

Paul L Arvidson, a full-time carer for 10-year-old Eleanor, affectionately known as ‘Nenna’, has published thriller The Wheels of Cady Grey on Amazon.

The heroine in the story, Cady Grey, is a fictionalised teenage version of Nenna, a wheelchair user with complex medical needs.

Paul, from West Bagborough, said: “Nenna is a SWAN, meaning she is currently undiagnosed. Most of her symptoms have a life-limited

Two schoolchildren have conquered the second of two UK mountains and scaled a mammoth fundraising target for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW).

Brother and sister Bodie and Gracie Blake climbed Scafell Pike, England’s highest peak, during their Easter holidays this year and spent time in their summer holidays climbing to the top of Ben Nevis – the UK’s highest.

They initially set out to raise £200 but were able to raise £1,180 for the charity, which offers respite to children with life-limiting conditions and their families.

Bodie, aged 11 and Gracie, aged nine from Ideford, visited the

It's the August bank holiday this weekend and that can only mean one thing – the Minis and their drivers are gearing up ready for the 24th chapter of The Legendary Grand Tour.

How incredible is that, I never thought it would get past 10.

Last year was very special and a massive surprise, when we won the Pride of Britain, Regional Fundraisers award 2018.

I do not look upon it as my award; it belongs to everyone who takes parts, not just the Mini owners, but our crew members and motorbike marshals, as without them, the event would never happen.

Another group that we cannot forget is the people

A Barnstaple man is attempting to become one of the few people to have windsurfed to Lundy Island.

Joe Mitchell is a keen surfer and sailor but only took up windsurfing this year and hopes to complete the tricky 40-mile-return open sea crossing from Westward Ho! to raise £2,000 for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW).

Joe, who has been busy training since May, hopes to complete the challenge before he turns 50 at the end of October and says he is now ready to go as soon as there is a suitable weather window.

He said: “The idea is to learn to windsurf, and to then to windsurf to Lundy Island

Six-year-old Chloe Light, who is a pupil at Widey Court Primary School in Crownhill Plymouth, has recently had 14 inches cut off her hair. Not only is she donating the hair to Little Princess Trust she has also raised over £1100 for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW).

Chloe came up with the idea of having her hair cut for charity after the death of her cousin’s nine-month old daughter; Freya Rose Smith, who died at CHSW’s Little Harbour hospice in St Austell on 21 st June 2019. After this sad news Chloe decided she wanted to do something to help children but also help the charity that had

The former chairman of Somerset County Cricket Club has presented a cheque for £29,512 to Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW).

Andy Nash ran the London Marathon for CHSW in April and visited the charity’s Little Bridge House hospice in North Devon this week to deliver the efforts of many months of fundraising.

Andy, 61, from Cheddon Fitzpaine near Taunton, pledged to raise £26,000 – £1,000 per mile – and said he had been bowled over by the support he’d received from friends, family and staff at the charity, as well as former colleagues at the Cooper Associates County Ground.

Presenting the

In today’s modern, busy world, we don’t often stop and simply be silent. Jeff Hollis, however, spent six hours in silence and all for local charity, Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW).

With the help of Vic and Clair Coulson, landlords of The Green Dragon at Combe St Nicholas in Chard, Jeff held a sponsored silence and raised £838.53. He said, “No one thought I would be able to complete it, but I kept thinking of what the money would go to and that enabled me to complete the sponsored silence. I’m only too pleased to have raised the money for such a worthy cause.”

Emma Parker, CHSW Community

The Mayor of Hayle, Councillor Clive Polkinghorne, is on the look out for people to join him on the town’s annual sponsored walk which this year will be raising vital funds for Little Harbour children’s hospice run by Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW).

The circular walk will take place on Sunday 15 th September and there will be two distances to choose from making the event suitable for all abilities and canine friends are invited too.

For those wishing to take part in the 5 mile route (some of which is on the coastpath), registration will be at 2pm and the walk will begin at 2.30pm. For

Charlton Farm is one of three children’s hospices run by Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW). Nestled in gorgeous surroundings in Wraxall, North Somerset, it supports families who face the emotional and physical strain of caring for children who, sadly, are not expected to live into adulthood. It provides a haven, a place where children and their families can be nurtured and cosseted, returning home with renewed vigour and a sense of anticipation for the next visit.

Pat Hobbs from Frome is helping to raise awareness of Charlton Farm as many people are unaware it is the local hospice for

Local residents, businesses and the Portishead Ramblers joined staff and volunteers from local charity, Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) for their Summer Ramble in the beautiful surroundings of CHSW’s Charlton Farm hospice at the weekend to raise vital funds for the charity.

50 walkers followed a beautiful, but challenging, 5-mile route through Avon Wildlife Trust’s Prior’s Wood and surrounding countryside finishing in the tranquil hospice garden and grounds for an afternoon tea. Some surprising wildlife was spotted on route as the walk passed Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm! The sun shone and Sax in