Pete Price has called for Liverpool to back the transformation of Claire House's West Derby site into a full children's hospice, warning that children are dying without hospice care close to home.
The radio presenter, who has supported Claire House since its early days, says the charity's second site currently offers day services and now has planning permission to become a full children's hospice, providing end-of-life care and overnight respite stays for families in desperate need of a break.
A teenage wing that changed everything
Price recalls when Claire Sweeney became involved with the Claire House appeal to build a dedicated teenage wing - a space that did not exist anywhere else at the time. When the £2 million wing was built in 2005, he says it took his breath away. Having met some of those young people and heard their stories, seeing the space looking out onto the gardens felt like Claire House had reached a whole new level.
One Christmas, while on air, his producer told him to take a call. On the line were two seriously ill teenage lads having a Christmas party in their new wing, who wanted to thank Claire Sweeney and Price for supporting the hospice's Sparkling Star Appeal. He says he will never forget the sheer joy in their voices - or the tears shed in that studio. For the first time, teenagers had a place of their own for respite and end-of-life care. They had not even asked for donations on air, but listeners were so moved that support started flooding in.
Memories and a call to action
Price has backed Claire House from the very beginning, remembering meeting Claire Cain's mum, Chris, and the first Light for Love tree, donated by his friend Heather in memory of her husband, Dennis Solomon. He also recalls the fountain, funded by Paul O'Grady.
Just the other week, he visited the charity's second site in West Derby, which currently offers day services, and called it remarkable. He argues that Liverpool needs to make the full hospice happen, saying that for too many families, the journey across to the Wirral is simply too far, and asking how dare Liverpool families miss out on crucial support just because of where they live.
Next week, Price says he will have more to say about why Liverpool must fight this injustice - because when the city decides something matters, nothing can stop it. Donations can be made via the Claire House website.
