Charities 2004

All profits from the 2004 Yorkshire Awards Dinner will be donated to Yorkshire-based charities, each nominated by one of the main sponsors of the dinner.

Sue Ryder Care Wheatfields

Every day at Wheatfields in Headingley, Leeds staff and volunteers bring comfort and care to people with life threatening illnesses and their families. Their aim is to relieve the pain and distressing symptoms that terminal illness can bring through their medical expertise, caring for each individual person with dignity, sensitivity, compassion and understanding.

Nominated by Aon Limited

Childline

This year Childline is celebrating its 16th Birthday Year. Childline is the free national 24-hour helpline for children in trouble or danger. Any child, anywhere in the UK can phone Children's freephone number : 08001111.

Through what children say to Childline influences policies and practice in issues which affect their welfare and rights.

Nominated by npower

Robert Ogden School for autistic children

The Yorkshire Post Hidden Disability Appeal aims to raise £1.4m for the refurbishment of the Robert Ogden School, at Thurnscoe, near Barnsley. It is the world's largest school for  autistic children, and has pupils from across the region aged from five to 19. The appeal has already helped to transform the school, but a further £700,000 of work is still needed.

Nominated by Yorkshire Post Newspapers

The Jane Tomlinson Trust

Jane and her family have chosen four charities to benefit from the appeal:

  • Cancer Research UK, the national charity for major research into causes of cancer. Jane - one of the 1,200 people who ran for Cancer Research in the 2002 London Marathon - was the first person to tackle the distance after being told her illness was terminal.
  • Hannah House, a care home in Rothwell, Leeds, less than a mile from where Jane and her family live. It provides accommodation and medical attention for children with complex health needs.
  • The Paediatric Acute Services at Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust where Jane is a radiographer.
  • Sparks (Sport Aiding Medical Research for Kids), a charity dedicated to medical research into conditions affecting babies and young children. This charity, funding studies into all manner of ailments in infants, is selected by Mike Tomlinson because it combines the work Jane is involved in with the willingness of professional sportsmen and women to give children a healthy start to life.

Nominated by Yorkshire Television

Yorkshire Air Ambulance

Yorkshire Air Ambulance is over 4 years old and has flown nearly 4000 missions during this period, mostly to incidents where speed can make a difference between life and death. It receives no government funding. To provide this life saving service it requires over three thousand pound a day, which is raised entirely from the people of Yorkshire.

Nominated by Yorkshire Society

Prince of Wales Hospice

The Prince of Wales hospice provides total care, total commitment to patients suffering life threatening illness and support to their loved ones and families in the five towns area of Pontefract, Castleford, Knottingley, Normanton & South Elmsall. To continue this tireless care we need to raise £18,000.00 per week.

Nominated by Yorkshire Society

The Duke of Wellington's Regiment Regimental Association Fund

The Duke of Wellington's Regiment is the county Regiment of the West Riding of Yorkshire from where it has recruited its soldiers for over 250 years. The Regimental Association Fund is the Regiment's benevolence fund used to provide support and help to ex-soldiers and their dependants who fall into need.

Nominated by Yorkshire Society

The Childrens's Heart Surgery Fund

The Children's Heart Surgery Fund is a registered charity based at the Yorkshire Heart Centre in Leeds General Infirmary. This is the largest centre for the treatment of heart defects in the UK and covers a population of approximately 5 million, with patients from all over Yorkshire, Humberside and the North Midlands.

Every year over 1200 children pass through the paediatric unit, with over 40% of them needing long term care. The aim of the Fund is to continue to strive to provide resources, equipment and research for those children with the misfortune to be born with a heart defect.

Nominated by Yorkshire Bank

Leukaemia Research Fund

Leukaemia is the most common childhood cancer and along with the related blood disorders such as lymphoma, myeloma and myelodysplasia affects over 18,000 adults each year. Leukaemia Research Fund remains the only national charity dedicated to funding research into the causes, improving treatments and searching for a cure for all of the blood cancers. Our 180 research projects throughout the UK are funded by voluntary contributions, co-ordinated by our head office and 200 voluntary branches. With 95p in every pound raised going directly towards research, we really make every penny count.

Nominated by Black Sheep Brewery