Under-threat Acorns Children's hospice receives £100K donation

A bereaved mother who dedicated her life to helping children with life-limiting illnesses has donated £100,000 to an under-threat children's hospice.

Acorns Children's Hospice is aiming to raise £2m to keep its Walsall centre open after funding issues put it at risk of closure.

Erica Brown, 69, donated the money after an inheritance and said Acorns was "an absolute and utter lifeline".

The charity's chief executive said he was "overwhelmed" by her generosity.

Ms Brown's twin children, Jonathan and Juliet, died in 1973.

In 1999, after working in children's palliative care, Ms Brown, from Droitwich, joined Acorns as its head of research and continued working for the charity for 10 years.

"I know the support the charity gives to children and families across the region," she said.

"Acorns not only enables children to have a 'good death'... but is able to continue supporting families."

There was a public outcry when the charity, which also runs hospices in Worcester and Birmingham, announced proposals to close its Walsall centre.

Acorns cared for about 800 children, plus their families, across the West Midlands last year - including 200 children at the Walsall hospice.

A cash injection from NHS England in July meant the charity could keep the branch open until at least March 2020, however it is aiming to raise a further £2m to protect its future for longer.

Ms Brown's donation is "a significant step in helping us secure the long-term future for families across the Black Country," chief executive Toby Porter said.

"Her legacy will be felt for many years to come through the lives of countless people across the region."

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone.