Council workers helps hospice campaign with £5k donation

Amjid Mehmood, aged 40, from Dudley, was part of the team that raised the cash from a cake sale and a raffle – the latter included a signed Wolves football shirt.

Acorns cares for his six-year-old daughter Zara Khan who suffers with Joubert’s syndrome which is a rare condition affecting the brain.

How you can donate:

• Text ACORNS5 to 70025 to donate £5*

• Text ACORNS10 to 70025 to donate £10*

• Visit acorns.org.uk/appeal

• Phone: 01564 825 037

• *With texts you will be charged your donation, plus your standard network rate. Acorns receives at least 98 per cent of your donation as it will incur a two per cent admin charge for this service. By texting, you are agreeing for Acorns to phone or text you to tell you about our work and how you can help. If you wish to donate and not hear from Acorns again, text ACORNS5 NO to 70025. For more information call 01564 825 037. Acorns Children’s Hospice registered charity no: 700859.

The charity also cared for his late son Subhan Khan, who died in 2016 aged seven. Subhan also suffered from the same condition.

Amjid said: “The charity really supported us when we lost our son – otherwise I don’t think we would have made it through.

“Acorns is like a home from home. The staff are really welcoming and experienced and the kids love going there.”

The cheque presentation was made at Wolverhampton Civic Centre.

He was joined by his daughter Zara, Wolverhampton council managing director Tim Johnson and colleagues Linda Downing and Amanda Millard.

Amjid, who works for the council as an engineer, was delighted to hand over the cash. The team originally set a target of £3,000 but smashed that and raised a grant total of £5,102.

More on this story:

• Dame Julie Walters backs appeal as fundraising nears £250,000

• Erica's incredible £100,000 donation leaves hospice boss speechless

• Acorns boss: Help us continue to be there for families in need

• Acorns: Make a difference and help save vital children's hospice

• Acorns children's hospice closure halted as funding appeal launched

• MPs vow to battle for Acorns Children's Hospice

• 'Why should children's hospice care be funded by selling second hand clothes?'

The much-needed money will go towards Acorns’ urgent £2million fundraising appeal which was launched after a gap in NHS funding plunged the charity’s future into doubt.

And Amjid is not finished yet with helping the charity.

He is gearing up to run the London Marathon in 2020 in aid of Acorns and in memory of his son Subhan.

Amjid has only run half-marathons so this will be a new challenge for him.

He said: “I have never run a marathon before so this is definitely going to challenging.”

To donate to Amjid's cause, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AmjidMehmood