Harry takes hospice cause to Parliament

Buy photos » Harry Bishop at the Houses of Parliament. (s)

A REDDITCH schoolboy had the chance to push the case for more funding for hospice care after sharing his own fund-raising efforts on a trip to the Houses of Parliament.

Harry Bishop met shadow ministers to explain the important work of hospices after his friend's cousin received end of life care at Acorns Children's Hospice.

The 16-year-old has since organised events, including a concert which raised over £900, to help Acorns continue to support children with life-limiting conditions.

He was invited to meet MPs including Chris Williamson, Shadow Minister for Communities and Local Government, Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham and Shadow Care Secretary Liz Kendall to explain his vision for more funding to be made available for Acorns and other hospices.

Carole Crowe, Acorns community fund-raising manager, said: "Harry is a good ambassador for Acorns. He wasn't frightened to go to the council and ask for help with the concert to start his fund-raising.

"I was impressed Harry managed to organise such a large and successful event at such a young age and by his energy and enthusiasm for helping local life-limited children. This experience has dramatically shaped the person he is and his confidence has grown. It was great that the shadow ministers encouraged him and supported him in his call for funding."

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