Four-year-old Katie has leukaemia and is one of the many patients who regularly visit the hospital's oncology ward.

Her mother Nicole says that Katie is "doing really well''.

"She' getting through the leukaemia,'' Mrs Fulwood said. "She's fighting fit at the moment. She had pneumonia, which was pretty bad.''

Mrs Fulwood said she was amazed when she learned that Kaise Stephan [see page 2] was going to try to swim the English Channel to raise $250,000 for the oncology department.

She said she was impressed by the level of care within the department and expressed her thanks to Mr Stephan and to everyone else who had donated to the hospital in the past.

Justine Blackley's son Marcus, 4, also has leukaemia and has been treated at the hospital for nearly nine months.

"We're in here for about three to four weeks at a time, which is a bit tough but it's amazing to know that there are lots of people in the community who are supporting the hospital and the oncology department,'' Mrs Blackley said.

"Things that they can do to help us mean an awful lot to the families that spend a lot of time here.''

Mrs Blackley said that each time Marcus had treatment, a test or a procedure, he was given a colourful bead to add to a chain known as "bravery beads''.

He has nearly filled his second string of beads.

"I was looking at them the other day and realised just how many treatments Marcus has had,'' Mrs Blackley said. "It brought a tear to my eye.''

Anne McFadden, from the hospital's fund-raising department, said the bravery beads were some of the small extras made possible through donations.

"We want to give all our kids and families the best care and the best treatment possible and we can do the extra bits through donated funds,'' Ms McFadden said.

"Fund-raising provides taxis to families, camps for families, new machines all things that will make the lives of the children and families much easier.''