It came as the perfect anniversary present.
Almost a year to the day since the Duchess of Cambridge launched a £10m appeal to build a state-of-the-art children's hospice, the charity behind it has revealed a massive £2m has already been secured.
It was a frosty Tuesday morning at the Norfolk Showground last November 25 that East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) patron Kate Middleton kick-started the project to replace the charity's tired facility at Quidenham.
The £10m target was daunting - but as the Duchess, businesses, families and fundraisers listened to moving tales of EACH's work, the atmosphere was one of determination.
Since then, sums have been pledged and fundraisers have biked, run, swum and baked to bring the figure secured up to £2m - with a further £8m needed to make the project a reality.
Jane Campbell, EACH Quidenham service manager, said the charity needed a '21st century building for 21st century care'.
'The nook will really help us transform our care to meet the changing needs of children and young people and to meet the increasing demand for our services,' she added. 'It will also mean we'll have to cancel less short break care while we deliver vital end life care.
'The size and design of the nook will mean we'll be able to do both, better, and at the same time.'
The purpose built site will allow the charity to provide care to even more children with life-threatening illnesses and support for their families.
It will be housed on a five-acre woodland site in Framingham Earl, just south of Norwich, and will offer services which are limited or unavailable at the Quidenham hospice, which was converted from an old country house and is one of the oldest in the UK.
They will include a hydrotherapy pool, music studio, large rooms for on-site family support groups, larger and more accessible outside space for children to explore and play and private rooms for one-to-one counselling.
Sam Lucking, EACH director of income generation, thanked those who had contributed so far and said: 'We're securing funding from a number of sources – from charitable trusts, major events, major individual giving, third part events, and both corporate and community fundraising. We also need individuals, businesses, schools and communities to help us in whatever way they can.'
If you would to donate, you can:
• Ring 01953 666767
• Text Nook10 followed by £3, £5 or £10 to 70070
• Send a cheque to East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH), Suite 5, The Old Dairy, Elm Farm Business Park, Norwich Common, Wymondham, Norfolk, NR18 0SW
For more information. email norfolk@each.org.uk or visit www.each.org.uk/the-nookHave you been fundraising for the nook appeal? Email lauren.cope@archant.co.uk
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