Nearly there

WITH Children's Hospice Week well under way, there are plenty of reasons to celebrate in Wraxall.Building work at the Charlton Farm site, which will house the South West's second children's hospice, is almost complete, furniture is being put in place and the carpets will soon be laid.Fund-raisers have already moved into their new offices and other staff are being recruited.By the beginning of the year, Children's Hospice South West (CHSW) is anticipating the £11.5million which it cost to create the new children's hospice will have been raised.But the charity will continue to rely on supporters to rake in a further £3.5million to fund Charlton Farm's initial running costs. The purpose-built children's hospice will welcome its first families on April 30, but such is the demand for the specialist care it will provide, the charity is already receiving referrals.Eddie Farwell, Children's Hospice South West's chief executive officer, said: "Charlton Farm is beginning to look like a finished building now that the finishing touches are being put in place."I'm sure children with life-limiting conditions, and their families, will enjoy staying at Charlton Farm and having a respite from the hardships and privations they often experience."The fact that Charlton Farm will open next year is all down to the efforts of a mighty army of supporters who have enabled us to use our skills, put our dreams into motion and enable people to catch those dreams."It just wouldn't have been possible without the massive effort of people in North Somerset."I'd like to thank them for their faithfulness and urge them to continue supporting us in the future."Children's Hospice South West will soon be announcing plans to give its supporters the chance to have a look round Charlton Farm before it opens next year.Fund-raisers are pictured at Charlton Farm assembling their new furniture with the help of staff from Ikea Bristol which donated the vital office equipment.