People in South Devon are being given a chance to help open a second children’s hospice in the south west by supporting a major charity fund raising event in Torquay in July.

The Riviera International Centre is hosting a masked ball organised by the Hatfield Nursery in Torquay to raise funds for Children’s Hospice South West, which is planning to open a second hospice near Bristol to support the hugely successful unit in North Devon.

The colourful event will take place at the Riviera International Centre on Saturday July 1st but the day before, little children at Hatfield will be staging their own mini masked ball at the nursery with a buffet tea and disco music. They will also be making their own masks with a prize for the best one.

The main ball on the Saturday (7.30am until 1am) will also include a buffet, live band and disco and again there will be prizes for the best dressed and the best mask.

Tickets will cost £17.50, to include the buffet, and can be obtained from Hatfield Nursery on 01803 316611 or email: tickets@hatfield-nursery.com

There are over 1000 children in the South West with a life threatening or limiting condition and many of these are cared for at the Children’s Hospice South West hospice at Fremington, near Barnstaple, which was opened back in 1995.

The demands on Little Bridge House Hospice have increased to the extend that there is a vital need for a second children’s hospice and the charity is hoping to welcome families to the new building, Charlton Farm at Wraxall near Bristol, early in April 2007.

The cost of building, equipping and the initial opening expenses is likely to be in the region of £15 million, which is why individuals, organisations and companies throughout the region have vowed to organise a series of fund raising events.

The masked ball at the Riviera International Centre is one such event and Sales Co-ordinator Laura Arnold is confident it will be well supported and raises lots of money for this extremely worthwhile cause.

“We hope the people of South Devon will rush to buy their tickets to support the ball. Another hospice will enable the Children’s Hospice South West to double their provision and offer so much more care and help to children in need and their families,” she said.

Jan Davidson event organiser of the ball explained: "When we thought about holding such an event only one venue came to mind.. The Riviera International Conference Centre. We held our wedding there in September, the service was second to none and the food was both plentiful and delicious".