The Harrogate Advertiser's Charity of 2007

MARTIN House Hospice has won the Harrogate Advertiser’s Charity of the Year poll, attracting 35 per cent of nearly 8,000 votes cast.
Stuart Andrew, fundraising manager for the hospice, said: "This is a very special year for us. It’s our 21st birthday and this is a fantastic birthday present."
The hospice, which cares for children and young people with life-limiting illnesses, was established in 1987 and offers respite stays, symptom control, emergency support and terminal care, as well as bereavement support.
These services are provided both at the Boston Spa hospice and in the family home, through the charity’s community team.
Martin House is currently looking after 300 children and supporting more than 100 bereaved families, work that costs £3.7 million each year.
"We’re about being here through the good times and the difficult and sad times, making sure that families have the support and care that they want for their child, " said Mr Andrew.
Winning the Charity of the Year vote guarantees the hospice a year of dedicated newspaper coverage.
Mr Andrew said the publicity would give Martin House a huge boost.
"People don’t often realise that Martin House cares for children from right across the Yorkshire region, " he said.
"In that sense, we’re Yorkshire’s local children’s hospice. Winning Charity of the Year will help us to get that message across, and make families aware that our services are here.
"That’s going to be nothing but great news."
The hospice receives just seven per cent of the funding it requires from statutory sources. As a result, its good work relies on the goodwill of the public.

"We’re very, very blessed really, with the support that we have from people, but we’re always conscious that we can’t rely on the same people all the time, " said Mr Andrew.
"Being voted Charity of the Year will hopefully drum up even more support, attracting new fundraisers and helping support the events that we have planned for the coming year."
Martin House hopes to have 300 participants in the Great North Run, as well as a significant presence at the Jane Tomlinson 10K run. It is also organising a Dragon Boat Race fundraiser.
Martin House took 35 per cent of the 7,918 Charity of the Year votes. Follifoot Park Disabled Riders' Group were second, followed by The Junction and Saint Michael’s Hospice.
Eighteen other charities shared the remaining votes.

**Voting Closed**