Save Acorns Black Country Hospice Appeal passes £500,000 mark

A fundraising appeal to save Acorns Children's Hospice has hit the £500,000 mark.

Mark Lyttle and Jen Dalton (front) with Acorns chief executive Toby Porter and supporters celebrate the Save Acorns Black Country Hospice Appeal hitting the £500,000 mark

The Save Acorns Black Country Hospice Appeal has now passed the half a million pounds stage thanks to the combined efforts of generous fundraisers since the appeal was launched in July.

The fundraisers revealed the amount to staff in a presentation at Acorns last month.

Walsall-based Mark Lyttle and Jen Dalton, whose daughter Isabella used Acorns for many years, before she passed away in April – also joined the supporters at the hospice.

Mark, who paid tribute to everyone who had supported the appeal so far, said: "We always had hope that Acorns wouldn’t be closing because how on earth could it? How on earth could any other family go through what we have been through, and not have that love and that support – that you feel as soon as you come through those doors?

“We all have a duty to protect this amazing place for generations to come – for all the families across the Black Country that need it. The local community has stepped up and shown we are ready for the fight, and it is inspiring to see.

“There is still a long way to go, but we hope that everyone keeps on going until we reach the target. And now we are getting close to Christmas so this is the perfect opportunity to give – so if you haven’t already, please dig deep."

Isabella Lyttle's parents Mark Lyttle and Jen Dalton, with Acorns chief executive Toby Porter

Toby Porter, Acorns chief executive, added: "It is difficult to find the words to describe what the local community has achieved so far for all the Black Country families who need Acorns. It is a deeply moving display of solidarity with Acorns.

“Whether it is sponsored car washes, bucket collections or fundraising fetes – the efforts of everyone towards this appeal have been phenomenal.

“We are overjoyed to have reached this milestone and my sincere thanks to everyone who has donated. Everyone across the Black Country – whether they have first-hand experience of Acorns or not – understands so clearly that this hospice must stay open.

"With Christmas around the corner, there’s no better time to donate – so please keep on giving."