A children’s hospice is asking the community to make children’s wishes come true this Christmas by buying a Wishing Star.

The Wishing Stars are being sold to raise awareness and support for children at Richard House Children’s Hospice with life-limiting, life-threatening and complex healthcare needs.

The Beckton hospice will continue providing support for the children and families that use their services over the Christmas period as well as providing festive fun for families such as a Christmas party and pantomime.

A Wishing Star is a simple cardboard decoration with a message written on it. The hospice offers three varieties to different organisations including small businesses, places of worship and schools.

Viv Talbot, community fundraising manager at Richard House, said: “The Wishing Stars are a way to raise awareness about Richard House and the work we do here.

“They allow people to make a contribution to a worthy cause during the season of charity and goodwill and also represent the hopes of the children they are helping.”

The three stars serve different functions. A star with “a special wish for …” and space for a child’s name is designed for places of worship or hospitals and hospices as a reminder of a child’s life.

More specific stars can be bought by businesses for a greater price, directly contributing to the services children with complex health conditions depend upon.

If you are interested, contact Viv Talbot on 020 7540 0213, or email her at vivt@richardhouse.org.uk.