Quantock Funeral Services Easter appeal for Chldren's Hospice South West

Quantock Funeral Services is asking people to support its Easter appeal to raise £1,000 for the Children's Hospice South West - and one lucky donor could win a pre-paid funeral.

The firm, which has bases in Staplegrove Road, Taunton, and East Combe, near Bishops Lydeard, has created a virtual Easter garden in the hope people will dip into their pockets in aid of the charity.

And if the £1,000 target is reached, one of the donors drawn at random will win a Golden Charter funeral plan worth £1,350.

The initiative is the brainchild of Quantock's Corrine Foster, who feels passionately about the Children's Hospice South West (CHSW).

Mrs Foster, Golden Charter funeral planner of the year 2017, said: "Having helped many bereaved families through one of the saddest times in their lives, the loss of a child is a very emotional and heartbreaking part of our job.

"But it's something I have a great passion for because, being a mother of two very small children myself, it makes you think and put things very much into perspective. I know how devastating it would be to have a terminally ill child.

"The help we give to the families and the support offered as a continuation after the funeral is vital and very important and makes a very strong bond between us and our families.

"The children's hospice sometimes gets overlooked because when people think of the word hospice they tend to think of terminally ill adults.

"We want to grow awareness of these specialist children’s hospices and bring attention to the amazing work they do for our poorly children and the support they offer the parents and extend family during this very distressing time."

CHSW has been caring for children with life-threatening conditions and supporting their families for more than 25 years, providing specialist palliative care, respite for the family, a sibling service, emergency support, end of life care and a bereavement service.

Mrs Foster added: "As well as trying to help the Children's Hospice South West by raising a target of £1,000 by Easter Sunday, we are offering the chance to give something back to the community in which we live.

"So, if we can raise the target figure of £1.000, Quantock Funeral Services, in conjunction with Golden Charter Funeral Plans, will draw one lucky donation maker out of the hat and provide them with a Golden Charter funeral plan worth £1,350."

To donate to Quantock Funeral Services' Easter appeal and to see how the Children's Hospice South West is supporting 11-year-old Taunton girl Iona Turner, who has cerebral palsy and needs round-the-clock care, and her family, click here.