AN OXFORD charity is hoping to light up the city's skies, and help keep a pioneering children's hospice running, in one fell swoop.

Next Saturday's massive fireworks display in South Park will be the 40th Oxford Round Table has organised.

And organisers have set themselves the target of raising £11,000, enough to keep Helen and Douglas House hospices in East Oxford running for a day.

Oxford Round Table decided to pledge money raised at last year's event to help the hospice.

Table vice-chairman Jason Priest said: "We have always done small donations, but this was the largest single donation that Oxford Round Table has ever made.

"In the hospice national campaign they talked about how much it cost to run them, so we did our calculations and decided we would sponsor a whole day to kickstart their scheme and maybe get other people to sponsor a day too."

Raising £11,000 in a day is no mean feat.

The South Park event costs £20,000 to put on, with the spectacular pyrotechnics alone costing £7,000.

Organisers will put up six kilometres of fencing around the park and have to provide for the health and safety of the 12-15,000 people expected to turn up.

But Mr Priest said that the organisation had only failed to cover its costs once in the 40 years it had been running the event - and Helen and Douglas House was a worthwhile cause.

Members have met some of the young people who use the hospices, including James Lewis, 20, from Farmoor, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and has used both Helen and Douglas House.

He spoke movingly about what a day in the hospice meant to him and his family.

He said: "I love using the jacuzzi and the computers, I also enjoy the trips out and the independence it gives me.

"Also it allows my mum and dad to have a break, knowing I am in a safe and happy environment, with nurses and care team members here 24 hours a day."

Community fundraising manager Ruth Harrison said: "We need to raise £4m a year to provide the one-to-one care so crucial to our families and young people, as well as the ongoing bereavement and sibling support."

Gates to next Saturday's display open at 5pm with the display itself starting at 6.30pm.

Tickets cost £6 per person or £15 per family, with children under five going free.

Discounted tickets can be bought in advance from Shepherd and Woodward, in High Street and Summertown, Walters of Turl Street, Up and Running, Headington, Ecco Shoes, New Inn Hall Street, Johnsons Buildbase, Cowley, and The Big Bang, Walton Street.

Clickhere for a guide to firework displays across the county.

Source: Witney Gazette