The Press's Guardian Angels Appeal has gained official charity status and taken on a new name.

Following the success of our GBP300,000 campaign to build a new high-dependency unit for children at York Hospital, the appeal has now been transformed into a charity.

Lives of young patients are already being saved, but to make sure the unit remains state-of-the-art, donations are still needed to help with its upkeep.

The charity, called Guardian Angels York, will enable fundraising for the new unit to continue into the future.

Maureen Augey, project nurse for the new high-dependency unit, said: It's wonderful that even though the appeal with The Press has ended, people are still taking this to heart and want to carry on supporting the unit.

We have treated 59 patients in the new unit since it opened in August and it is making such a difference to the care we are able to give.

Already this December, we have had 13 patients. These were children mainly with respiratory problems and infections, but also meningitis.

Maureen's partner, Peter Bebb, is one of three trustees responsible for running the charity.

He said: Everybody wants the best facilities for their children and doing this was a way I could give something back to the community.

The unit is now up and running, but there will be a need to replace equipment and keep staff fully up-to-date with the latest care standards and technology.

From next month, this web site will enable people to make donations online. In the meantime, we will welcome cheques made out to Guardian Angels York. Please send to Guardian Angels, Foss House, 271 Huntington Road, York, YO31 9BR, or donate online when the facility is up and running next month.

You can read the full article in the Press by clicking here. (Photo and link by kind permission of The Press).



FLASHBACK: Emmerdale actor John Middleton cuts the ribbon at the grand opening of the Guardian Angels’ high-dependancy unit at York Hospital.