AT the end of its 25th anniversary year, Acorns Children’s Hospice has issued a personal thank you to the people of Bromsgrove.

The charity, which runs a hospice in Birmingham, has a shop on Bromsgrove High Street, and estimates the charity has helped 15 life limited and life threatened children from the area over its history.

Chief executive David Strudley, said: “Acorns relies on voluntary donations and fundraising for the majority of the income needed to provide specialist palliative care, so we simply wouldn’t have been able to help those 15 children and families without the ongoing support of the local community.

“We know from our records that in the last 25 years individuals, groups, organisations and businesses in Bromsgrove have helped us to the tune of more than £846,000. At our current running costs of £750 per child per day, that’s the equivalent of over 1,120 days of care for local life limited children.

“This could have been via loose change in a collection tin, a bake sale in the church hall, dress down day in the office, a school concert, running a marathon or even trekking across a desert. The ways that people find to support Acorns are endless and never cease to amaze and humble us.”

The shop on High Street has been opened for just over a year, accepting donations from local residents, and the charity also has 20 active volunteers in Bromsgrove currently giving up their time to help out in the shop and out and about in the community.

Mr Strudley added: “On behalf of everyone at Acorns, I extend a big thank you to the Bromsgrove community and appeal to supporters past, present and future to make Acorns a part of their plans for 2014 in whatever way they can.”

For more information on Acorns Children’s Hospice and ways to help, visit acorns.org.uk or email info@acorns.org.uk.