The pupils of St Mary's Primary School, Fivemiletown, recently participated in a Coin Quest fundraising campaign for local charity, Southern Area Hospice Services.

Before Christmas, each child took home a small collection box in order to go on a quest for coins around their house. The children managed to raise the fantastic amount £256.50 and ¤37.43 !! Emma Trainor, Regional Marketing Officer for Southern Area Hospice Services, said, "On behalf of the staff and patients of Southern Area Hospice Services, I would like to thank all the children, their parents and the staff at St Mary's Primary School for their help and support for this Coin Quest Appeal."

Southern Area Hospice Services is a local charity which provides a specialist palliative care for patients with life limiting illnesses, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease and others. Care, comfort and support is provided free of charge for families from the Southern Health Board area, including Armagh, Dungannon, Augher, Clogher and Fivemiletown.

This year 2008, the Hospice fundraising department need to raise £1.89 million, (this is approx £216 every hour of every day) within the local community to enable the Hospice to continue providing vital services for those in our community who need it. With 1 in 3 people in Northern Ireland developing cancer, it is essential these services exist.