Evening Post (Bristol) 19^th July 1999

THE £11 million appeal for a new Bristol Children's Hospital has hit its target, it was announced today.

The Wallace and Gromit Grand Appeal has raised half the cost of the £22 million hospital in three years.

The rest of the money is being provided by the United Bristol Healthcare Trust, which runs the present hospital in St Michael's Hill.

Nick Park, of Bristol-based Aardman Animations, who created the Wallace and Gromit characters, today joined the celebrations at the hospital.

Appeal director Barry Stevens said: "This is a tremendous achievement."

"It has taken three years to reach but I knew we would get there in the end. I was always optimistic. It has been a tremendous community effort."

Aardinan Animations agreed to let the appeal use Wallace and Gromit as its mascots. The film, The Wrong Trouser's, inspired Wrong Trousers Day, which raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for the appeal.

The public support for the appeal was also shown with the sale of more than 80,000 Grand Appeal lapel pins.

Almost £8 million was raised in gifts and pledges from charitable trusts and foundations including £2 million from the Foundation for Children with Leukaemia, £1 million from the John James Bristol Foundation, £1 million from Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood (CLIC) and £250,000 from the Variety Club of Great Britain.

A further £2 million came in through the public appeal, including events such as the Wrong Trousers Day.

About £400,000 was donated from companies and £150,000 was raised through the sale of Wallace and Gromit Grand Appeal merchandise.

The rest came from private individuals. The appeal has received both celebrity and royal status.

The late Jill Dando, once a heart patient at Bristol's Children's Hospital, made the fund-raising appeal video.

Prince Charles, who is patron of the hospital, hosted a dinner at Highgrove to thank appeal supporters.

The appeal will remain in operation until the hospital opens in autumn 2000 to receive outstanding pledges and additional donations.

The £22 million will fund the initial capital costs of building and setting up the new hospital which will be run by the UBHT.

KIND-HEARTED Bristolians have been the back-bone behind the appeal through their fundraising.

The fund's backers have included:

• %ÏTony Bell, doorman at the Bristol Hippodrome, who raised almost £50,000 with the cast of Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera.

• %ÏClive Cove from Whitchurch, who ran 143 miles across the Sahara Desert.

• %ÏBristol musician Tim Justice, who raised more than £6,000 from three concerts at the Colston Hall.

• %ÏBristol band Massive Attack, who held their end-of-tour party in aid of the appeal.

• %ÏSpoon-bender Uri Geller, who handed over the profits from his book about a child treated at the hospital and made several personal donations.

• %ÏThe Somerfield supermarket chain, which raised the largest amount in one day with £650,000 from its charity ball.

• %ÏCake-maker Alan Fisher, of Sea Mills, who raised hundreds of pounds selling novelty cakes.