THIS month marks a significant milestone in the history of Acorns Children's Hospice as it celebrates ten years providing care at its hospice on Bath Road, Worcester.

Even before it opened its doors on March 14, 2005, the city had taken the charity to its heart and helped to fund its opening by raising £4 million to build and kit the building out.

The support in the city has continued with people willing to take on hundreds of fundraising challenges from epic climbs up the world's highest mountains to holding coffee mornings and visiting the hospice's charity shops.

Since the launch of its Three Counties base in the city a decade ago, staff and volunteers have provided care for 465 life-limited and life-threatened children and their families.

Acorns for the Three Counties is aiming to raise £50,000 in its tenth anniversary year to refurbish the hospice gardens by renewing and upgrading the soft play area and improving the outdoor facilities.

David Strudley, chief executive, said: “I hope people will join me in recognising the achievements of the past ten years as we continue to provide a vital service for children and their families across the region.

“The support we provide would not be possible without the extraordinary commitment and hard work of staff and volunteers and the dedication of the local community on whom we rely to fund the majority of our activities.”

To mark the anniversary, there will be host of events and activities including a fete and open day on Saturday, May 2 that will feature games, stalls and entertainment as well as a chance for visitors to tour the hospice.

Also marking its tenth year is the Acorns Triple Run at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern which returns on Sunday, June 21 and includes a 1km fun run, 5km woodland trail and the Malvern half marathon.

Families can also join in with the city's first Acorns lantern walk in November which will be held along the riverside.

Mr Strudley added: “There is a lot going on this year to mark ten years of Acorns for the Three Counties and I look forward to meeting supporters new and old over the course of the year.”

Built on a former donkey pastures donated by June Sayce and her late husband Willie, the £4 million Bath Road hospice was initially a ten bed respite centre.

Before it opened, families were having to do a 50 mile round trip to take their children to the nearest Acorns hospice in Selly Oak.

Acorns hospices are made up of a highly skilled multi-disciplinary care team on hand to provide one-to-one care, with an outreach team of nurses and volunteers available to offer support to families in their own home.

It costs over £8 million a year for Acorns to run its care services and it relies heavily on the community to fund its work.

To find out more about Acorns, visit acorns.org.uk.