Birmingham children’s charity given £20,000 cash boost

A Birmingham children’s charity is a step closer to developing a new care facility, thanks to a £20,000 donation from the city’s business and commercial property professionals.

C.H.A.R.M.S – Children’s Hand and Arms Surgery – received the cash boost as a result of the proceeds from The BRENDAS 2013 – an annual tongue-in-cheek fundraising awards show hosted by Property for Kids (PFK).

C.H.A.R.M.S is a charity established at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, which helps children from all over the UK who have problems with the form or function of their hands or upper limbs. The charity is currently planning the development a Children’s Hand Centre, which will provide a distinctive space for the care of the children. The donation will also help provide new equipment for assessing the children, including toys for observation through play.

Jilly Cosgrove, managing director of Barques Design and Property for Kids committee member, and Ed Gamble, of CBRE, presented the cheque to Ruth Lester from C.H.A.R.M.S.

Ed Gamble said: “I am thrilled to present this donation to C.H.A.R.M.S. The charity is very close to my heart and has helped my own son, who was born with a hand defect. Their work is invaluable and I look forward to seeing this money helping many more children in the future.”

Jilly Cosgrove said: “Once again, Property for Kids is proud to have raised so much money for a worthy cause. C.H.A.R.M.S is a fantastic charity and we are glad we could contribute to the work that they do.”

Ruth Lester, consultant plastic surgeon for C.H.A.R.M.S, said: “We are very grateful for such a substantial donation. This money will go towards new equipment and toys that will help us to assess and help children that have problems with their upper limbs. We still have a way to go to develop the Children’s Hand Centre, but the donation has had a big impact on our fundraising target.”

C.H.A.R.M.S continues to raise money towards the development of the Children’s Hand Centre and welcomes any donations via www.justgiving.com/CHARMS.