Next year, I will be 50 years of age. The 28 September to be precise.

I learned of the work of Northern Ireland Children's Hospice (NICH) at a Morning Service in my Church, St Mark's in Armagh.

I have decided to run, walk, climb and crawl 1000 miles between now and my 50th next year. Park Runs, Fun Runs, 10Ks, whatever it takes, to support this amazing charity and their great work.

Every day over 1000 children in Northern Ireland live with a life limiting or terminal illnesses. Most of them will not reach their teenage years.

NICH is the ONLY children's hospice in Northern Ireland. It helps 300 of these children and their families every year. They offer care in the home, pain and symptom management, counselling for all the family, and respite at their Hospice, Horizon House.

It costs £3.8 million each year to maintain its current level of services and support. The charity must raise £2.5 million of this independently.

NICH is determined to expand its services. It needs to open more beds at Horizon House, to help more of the children and families who desperately need our support.

I want to help them achieve this, and I am asking for your help.

Here is what your support can help to pay for.....

£35 - one hour of specialist community nurse care in a child's home

£50 - one hour of counselling for a child or any family member

£110 - a Hospice staff member stays overnight to provide respite

£220 - a full day of vital physiotherapy (and fun) in our hydrotherapy pool

£500 - a weekend of respite at Horizon House for all the family

Thank you for your support. And thank you on behalf of all those who will benefit.

Sonia x