A FUNDRAISING group has celebrated raising over £20,000 for charity in just 10 years.

The Acorns Ladies Charity Group have raised the impressive amount for Acorns Children’s Hospice.

This money has directly supported the Worcester-based charity’s work caring for life limited and life threatened children and young people.

The charity group, which consists of around seven regular volunteer members, was established by Glenda Britton in 2007 and has raised the money by holding 10 annual lunches at various venues across Worcestershire.

Members of the group, including chairman Hazel Bugbird from Drakes Broughton, visited the Acorns hospice in Bath Road, Worcester for an official cheque presentation with the charity's chief executive, Toby Porter.

Hazel said: “We are extremely proud of the group’s achievements over the past decade and we were delighted to meet Toby at the hospice to mark this milestone.

“We know first-hand the importance of this charity and its work with families across the region, so to be able to support Acorns and the dedicated nurses, medical staff and volunteers who make up its workforce is truly a privilege.”

Since 2007, the annual lunch has featured speakers from a diverse range of backgrounds including former Midlands Today presenter Kay Alexander MBE, who is now president of Acorns

Chief executive Mr Porter hailed the charity group’s success in drumming up so much money for the hospice over the years.

He said: “What the Acorns Charity Ladies Group have achieved is nothing short of spectacular and we are extremely grateful for their dedication to our cause over the years.

“Thanking Hazel and her fellow group members in person at the hospice was an absolute privilege and the perfect start to 2018, a year in which we are celebrating 30 years since Acorns first opened its doors."

He added: "I hope the group’s achievements inspire others to support Acorns during this special year.”

It costs Acorns nearly £10million every year to provide its care services and the charity relies on fundraising and the generosity of the public for the majority of this amount.