East Anglia's Children Hospices are a step closer to their dream of providing a much needed children's hospice after the charity announced the treehouse Appeal had reached £750 000 .; Joseph Rea and nurse Catie Grant; myphotos24 ref - slb 010 treehouse appeal 2

DELIGHTED staff and parents have been “humbled” by Suffolk’s support as a vital appeal to build a new children’s hospice has hit £750,000.

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Thanks to an outstanding fundraising effort, the East Anglia Children’s Hospices (EACH) Treehouse Appeal today hit its crucial milestone.

Sponsored skydives, cakes sales, donations and fun events have helped dedicated supporters raise £50,000 every week since the appeal was launched in March.

Cath Markham, palliative care manager at the Ipswich hospice, said she was overwhelmed by the level of public support.

“This is fantastic news,” she said. “It is lovely so many people are behind us.

“We are all so excited.

“It’s going to be great to finally get in there.”

Fundraisers are hoping to raise £3million to build a new, state-of-the-art hospice in quiet woodland off Bixley Road in Ipswich, to care for life-threatened youngsters and their families across Suffolk and north Essex.

The hospice has outgrown its current home in a cramped bungalow in Walker Close, and organisers hope the new, six-bedroomed facility will allow them to help more children in need of their care.

Sarah Barker, from Bacton, whose son, Isaac, 17, is cared for at EACH’s current hospice, said she was touched by supporters’ efforts.

“This is absolutely fantastic,” she said. “The new hospice is going to be phenomenal.

“It is quite humbling as a parent because sometimes you wonder if you have been slightly forgotten so the fact we are recognised outside the hospice is tremendous.”

The spacious new complex will offer hydrotherapy and physiotherapy as well as respite and end-of-life care.

Ms Barker said she was amazed by the speed at which money was pouring in.

“The campaign has really swept the county,” she said. “It just shows how important the hospice is to everyone, whether they have a disabled child or not.”

Melanie Chew, director of fundraising at EACH, welcomed the total as a step towards the crucial £1m mark.

“I have been absolutely delighted about the amazing response we have had,” she said.

“I am humbled by how much local people have taken this appeal to their hearts.

“Supporters are doing all these amazing things for us and we have been blown away by the support we have got.”