EXCITED fundraisers are celebrating today after an appeal for a new children’s hospice hit its �3 million target.

It has taken just over one year to raise the amount set by East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice (EACH) Treehouse Appeal for the hospice on the outskirts of Ipswich.

The state-of-the-art building in St. Augustine’s Gardens is set to open in May and will offer children and their families a wide range of facilities.

Melanie Chew, EACH Director of Fundraising, said: “The ability to reach the �3m target has been made possible by the overwhelming generosity displayed by charitable trusts, businesses, individuals, schools and community groups across Suffolk, Essex, East Anglia and beyond.

“The community has exceeded all expectation and we would like to express out heartfelt thanks to everyone who has played a part in reaching this goal.

“The Treehouse Appeal has provided us with a brand new purpose-built hospice with the potential to deliver better care to a greater number of families across Suffolk and North Essex.

“To achieve this, we hope those who have been a part of the Treehouse Appeal will continue to support us so we can continue to deliver vital care and support to those who need us most.”

The old hospice in Walker Close in Ipswich opened in 1999 as a pilot project, but demand for services had grown so significantly, that the facility was unable to meet the needs of life-threatened children and their families.

To overcome these obstacles, the �3m Treehouse Appeal was launched on March 16 last year following the donation of a four-acre woodland plot.

An ambitious fundraising schedule was then drawn-up and the people of Suffolk and North Essex embraced it- attending EACH led events as well as organising their own.

The fundraising total has grown steadily throughout the appeal, and the charity managed to hit their �3m target this week thanks to a number of large donations, including a cheque for �100,000 from Suffolk Freemasons.

The result of everyone’s efforts is a purpose-built hospice, which will offer previously unavailable services including hydrotherapy and separate over-night accommodation for families.

The inclusion of dedicated rooms including a music studio, contemplation room and sensory room means a higher level of care and support will be delivered.

Tracy Rennie, EACH Director of Care, said: “Our new hospice in Ipswich has revolutionised the provision of children’s hospice care across Suffolk and North Essex- allowing an even higher quality of care and support to be delivered to a greater number of local families.”

Ben Gummer, MP for Ipswich, added: “It’s absolutely magnificent that the target has been reached.

“The great thing about the appeal is that thousands of people have got involved and made donations to hit the target within a relatively short space of time.

“It now means that Ipswich has the leading children’s hospice in the world bringing together treatments, facilities and technology.”