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Sweet fans have helped a business to raise £100,000 for a Wraxall charity.

Sweet company, Snak Appeal, has raised the impressive amount for Children’s Hospice South West.

Snak Appeal was set up in 2008 to raise money for charities by selling sweets and treats.

Pictured: Brad, Christine, Sue and John from Snak Appeal handing the donation to Janey from Children's Hospice South West.

Source: North Somerset Times

The Light up a Life services give families an opportunity to celebrate and remember those who cannot be with us.

Emma and Mark Smale from Bideford lost their daughter Imogen in March aged just four-years-old.

They cannot ever thank the Children’s Hospice South West team at Little Bridge House enough for what they did for Imogen but also the whole family.

The little girl was their first child and a much-longed-for baby, but when she was born in July 2011 she had a condition called microcephaly (a head that was too small) and Emma and Mark were told she would have a ‘limited life expectancy’.

Em

"He's looked after by nurses and has all his very complex needs taken care of and is given all his fluids and medicines. You get a chance to recharge your batteries and get that breather you need to carry on. The hospice has been a massive support.

"Samantha and I tend to do a lot of visits to the hospice together and we can do normal mum things like have a glass of wine, chill out and chat – things we don't get much chance to do otherwise. We get to be mums. Without the hospice we wouldn't survive."

As well as the breaks the charity helps the families by signposting help provides end of life

A children’s hospice in Wraxall is hoping to entice former nurses back into the field by offering to pay for a return to work course.

Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) is offering the incentive to tackle the nationwide shortage of nurses in children’s palliative care.

The lack of staff has been affecting the care available to children with life limiting conditions, but CHSW wants to show how rewarding the role can be.

Mandy Robbins, director of care at CHSW, said: “Children’s palliative care requires dedication and enthusiasm and we would like to invite nurses who may have left the

There are more than 50,000 children and young people in the UK who are expected to have short lives and the number is rising. These children have complex and unpredictable health conditions and rely on qualified children’s nurses with the right skills to provide palliative care and symptom management. Yet there is currently a shortage of children’s palliative care nurses and this is already having a negative impact on the care provided to children and families.

Two thirds of voluntary services surveyed by UK charity Together for Short Lives reported that a shortage in nurses is resulting in a

To be forced to watch one child slowly die is an unbearable pain no parent should ever have to experience. But to have two daughters diagnosed with a terminal condition seems an incredibly cruel twist of fate.

Amazingly Abida Ahmed, from Lockleaze, is battling through the horrific trauma; yet she manages to care for herself, her three other children, and even cooks for her friends and neighbours on a regular basis.

When her daughter Hadiya was six months old she was diagnosed with a rare brain condition called GA-1, which affected proteins in her body.

The devastating illness caused her motor

Royal Patron of Children’s Hospice South West HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, attended a Service of Thanksgiving in celebration of our 25th Anniversary, held at Exeter Cathedral on Tuesday 19 July.

The special service was in honour of all those who have contributed to the charity over its 25 years, with over 700 people in attendance.

As guest of honour, The Duchess was invited to light candles in remembrance of those children we have cared for in the past and as a dedication to the continuing support the hospice provides to children and families across the South West.

The Patronage of HRH The

A record number of cyclists have powered through North Devon on their way to raising nearly £100,000 for Children's Hospice South West.

Taking place across three day and through three counties, Ride for Precious Lives sees cyclists from across the country peddle the 205 miles between each of the region's three children's hospices.

Starting in St Austell, the group set off on Friday as they made their way to North Devon, finishing the day in Bideford. The second day of peddling started at the children's hospice's base at Little Bridge House in Fremington, where they started the two-day journey

Samantha Cameron held the special evening reception to mark the charity’s 25th anniversary this year.

Samantha Cameron has hosted a special reception at 10 Downing Street to celebrate 25 years of Children’s Hospice South West.

The reception was attended by more than 100 guests, including families who have used the hospice.

The charity’s co-founder Eddie Farwell attended the evening on 7 June and said:

This has been an immense honour and privilege. 2016 is such a special year for Children’s Hospice South West, and this has been an incredible opportunity to share my story as to how it all