Nearly 15,000 sign petition to try and save Walsall's Acorns children's hospice
A campaign calling for Acorns children's hospice in Walsall to be saved is continuing to gather pace, with a petition closing in on 15,000 signatures.
Thousands have rallied behind a campaign for the much-loved hospice to be kept open following the shock announcement earlier this week it was set to close by October.
Nearly £2,500 has also been raised on a fundraising page launched by the father of a Walsall schoolgirl who stayed at Acorns in the final days before she died of cancer.
The proposed closure of the Walstead Road hospice has been met with widespread alarm and prompted instinctive fundraising in an attempt to reverse the decision. Charity bosses said a rise in costs and fall in donations was the reason for the decision.
A petition started by Emma Tucker against the closure has been signed by nearly 14,500 people.
Mark Lyttle, whose daughter Isabella fought bravely against neuroblastoma before she died aged 11 in May, is also planning to organise fundraising events to boost awareness of the situation. Around 100 people have donated on his fundraising page, bringing in nearly £2,500 so far.
Officials from Walsall FC are also due to meet with Acorns bosses to see if the club can "help in some way".
Commenting on the petition page, David Bowker said: "My daughter has worked at the hospice for the last 12 years, totally dedicated to her children. She is devastated at the consequences for patients and staff."
Nicola Stewart added: "I feel that not enough has been done to fight for the hospice to stay open. This should be a priority. A children's hospice is not a treat or an added extra. It is vital.
"There are children and families using the hospice now who need it to stay open, and there will be children and families in the future who need it to turn to."
People can donate to Mr Lyttle's page at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/isabella-loves-acorns?utm_term=GN2dP7wJa
