OSWESTRY'S Hope House has pulled off its biggest and boldest fundraising appeal to date, bringing in a whopping £500,000 in just 36 hours.

The hospice, based in Morda, ran its online #FinalMomentsMatter appeal – a first for Hope House and its Tŷ Gobaith children’s hospices – topped £560,000 by the end of Monday, November 22.

It will fund a whole year of end of life care for seriously ill local children and families in 2022.

Ahead of the appeal, more than £250,000 of match funding had been pledged by local businesses and key supporters, meaning that every £1 donated online during the 36 hours was doubled.

Hundreds of people across the region got behind the appeal, making personal donations, urging friends over and family to give, and taking part in everything from sporting events to coffee mornings, and sponsored walks to raffles.

They were inspired by families who shared their poignant stories on video about how Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith had supported them when their children died, enabling them to say goodbye in their own time and in their own way.

Fundraising director Simi Epstein said everyone at the charity was overwhelmed by the public response to the appeal.

She added: “The love and support we have had over the last 36 hours has been humbling.

"I cannot even begin to describe how grateful we are to our brave families who shared their stories to ensure other families could receive care when their children die too.

“Together our generous match funders, our determined team leaders who ran mini online appeals, and our incredible families, supporters and volunteers dug deep and raised enough money to pay for end of life care for all local children and families who will need our services in 2022.

“What they achieved was nothing short of a miracle and we will never be able to thank them enough.

“Sadly, we cannot stop children from dying but thanks to everyone involved in the #FinalMomentsMatter appeal their families will not face the death of their child alone.

"Instead, they will receive the very best end of life care at the place of their choice – either at Hope House or Tŷ Gobaith, or supported in their own home.”