Stoke City players are giving their support to the Donna Louise Children's Hospice Trust's "Give It Sum Wellie" day on Friday 18th April. They are challenging their fans to support the Trust and wear wellies on Friday 18th April.

The charity, which provides a comprehensive hospice service for children with life threatening conditions, is urging people to wear Wellington boots on 18th April in return for a minimum donation of £2.

"This is a really fun way to help us raise money for seriously ill children," said the charity's head of fundraising, Melanie Mills. "We have the massive task of raising £2 million every year to keep supporting children with life threatening or life limiting conditions. We don't receive regular funding from government so we rely on donations and support from the public to stay open."

Stoke City midfielder, Liam Lawrence said, "We think it is a great way to fundraise for the Donna Louise Children's Hospice Trust and hope that people will take up our challenge and wear their wellies on Friday 18th

The Donna Louise Children's Hospice Trust was established in 1999 and cares for children with life threatening conditions. A comprehensive children's hospice service is provided at the hospice in Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, and a community nursing team offers care and support for children and families in their own homes. The charity provides respite and end of life care for any child between the age of 0 and 19 years from Staffordshire and South Cheshire who, as a result of illness or injury, is unlikely to live beyond their teenage years.

The charity is hoping that people will support their Give It Sum Wellie Day on 18th April and help them raise money for terminally ill children in Staffordshire and South Cheshire. This is just one of many fundraising events taking place across the county and the charity is hoping to set a new world record later in the year for the largest number of people completing a 1km race in Wellington boots.

So give your wellies a workout and support the Donna Louise Children's Hospice Trust. Taking part is easy, just contact the fundraising team on 01782 654444 or email info@donnalouisetrust.org

Notes
The Donna Louise Children's Hospice Trust provides respite for children with life threatening conditions and support for the whole family at the hospice and in their own home. Our hospice called Treetops, is based in Trentham, on the outskirts of Stoke-on-Trent. Here we provide respite and end of life care for children from all over Staffordshire and South Cheshire that are between the ages of 0 and 19 years and have a life-threatening illness. We provide a safe, caring environment where children and families can truly feel at home.

A community nursing team provide respite and end of life care to children and families within their own homes.

Currently the Trust cares for 160 children from South Cheshire and Staffordshire. It does not receive any government funding; its annual running costs of £2 million are obtained from public donations.