A DAD has raised almost £3,000 for a Worcester charity which cared for his daughter before she died of a brain tumour aged just 16.

Chris Wilkinson, 52, from Uphampton, cycled the Ring of Kerry, a 112-mile ride in Southwest Ireland to raise funds for Acorns Children’s Hospice, in memory of his daughter Anna.

She died in January last year, 18 months after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

 Anna was taken to a special facility at Acorns for the Three Counties based in Bath Road, Worcester, where Chris and his family were able to spend precious final moments with her.

 Chris said: “Anna was given a beautiful bedroom and we were encouraged to take some of her belongings with us to make it just like her own room.

"We visited her as often as we liked while the funeral arrangements were made and this was an incredible support for us and our family.

 “We know Acorns relies on fundraising to continue, so the cycle ride was just a small way of giving back and saying thank you.

"The staff at Acorns were there to comfort and support us whenever we needed it, night or day. This family support is still continuing and has been a constant source of strength and comfort for us.”

Joining Chris on the ride were friends Mark Tanser and Yvette Pygott, with Janine Tanser and Chris’s wife Wendy Wilkinson forming the support crew.

 Lynne Carter, head of fundraising at Acorns, said: “We are so incredibly grateful to Chris and his team for taking on this challenge and for the money already raised. Thanks to his generosity we will be able to provide more care and support to families going through similar situations."

In the past year Acorns has provided care to over 870 children and more than 1,090 families, including those who are bereaved. This costs the charity nearly £10million to continue every year and it relies on fundraising for the majority of that amount.

To donate to Chris’ Just Giving page, visit

justgiving.com/myc-cycleforacorns  

 Chris runs a charity in memory of his daughter called the Anna Wilkinson Mockingbird Trust, which arranges tailored trips and experiences for families with life-limited and life-threatened children. For more information, visit theannawilkinsonmockingbirdtrust.co.uk