Mayor Alan Rennles

[p][b]Care for Kids North Devon chosen as Mayor’s charity 2020[/b][/p][p]The Mayor of Barnstaple, Councillor Alan Rennes, has chosen Care for Kids North Devon as his charity of the year. [/p][p]As the Mayor’s usual fundraising events aren’t possible in the current climate, he will be taking his fundraising online in a series of virtual events.[/p][p]The funds will help support Care for Kids as it faces a very challenging time ahead. Every year the charity helps between 15 and 20 North Devon families who are faced with the unimaginable challenge of having a child diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Many families struggle to meet the costs of visiting specialist hospital appointments in Bristol, Exeter or London. Care for Kids provides each family with an £800 grant to help pay for travel, living costs and loss of earnings. The charity also supports improvement projects at the Caroline Thorpe children’s ward at North Devon District Hospital. [/p][p]Charity founder and trustee, Jacky Massos, says: “We’re delighted to have been chosen as the Mayor’s charity this year. Care for Kids is completely self-funded, so we rely on donations, fundraising and events to carry on our work supporting North Devon families. Covid-19 has made this year very challenging for our charity, so the Mayor’s support is very gratefully received. Please help us to help others by supporting the Mayor’s virtual events, or simply donating to his fundraising page.”[/p][p]Donate online at [url=https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=CllrAlanRennles&pageUrl=1]https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiserdisplay/showROFundraiserPageuserUrl=CllrAlanRennles&pageUrl1[/url][/p][p]Follow Barnstaple Town Council or Care for Kids North Devon on Facebook to get involved with the Mayor’s upcoming fundraising events.[/p][p][b]About Care for Kids North Devon[/b][/p][p]Care for Kids North Devon provides instant financial assistance to families who have a child diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. This may be a cancer, heart condition, cystic fibrosis or a head injury. [/p][p]Due to North Devon’s rural location, all seriously ill children are now treated in specialist children’s hospitals outside the area. For families in North Devon, this can mean the loss of earnings, subsistence and travel costs for parents traveling and staying in Bristol, Oxford, Birmingham or London.[/p][p]To date the charity has supported over 100 local families by distributing grants to a total of more than £100,000. Over the years the charity’s work has expanded and now includes improvement work at the Caroline Thorpe children’s ward at North Devon District Hospital. Local fundraising has supported a new parent’s room, play room refurbishment, a 3D pain distraction unit and treats at Christmas. Last year the charity funded a £16,000 transformation of the cubicle 5 isolation treatment room. Work is now complete on their latest project refurbishing a further individual bedroom (cubicle 4).[/p][p]Contact: Jacky Massos, Care for Kids North Devon Trustee. [/p][p]Email: jacky@careforkidsnorthdevon.org.uk. Tel: 07541 315 557[/p]