A CHARITY that helps local families with terminally ill children is celebrating its volunteers this week.

Helen & Douglas House will be celebrating Volunteers’ Week by saying thank you to its 707 ‘Hospice Heroes’, including Helle Gujral, from Woodstock.

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Helle, who is Danish, has been an arts and crafts volunteer for the hospice for the last 6 years and despite working part time at Oxford University, she still finds time to volunteer for the charity.

She helps capture special memories by producing memory quilts and wall hangings for the local families who receive care from Helen & Douglas House.

Helle said: "Being part of the Helen & Douglas House family has enriched me in ways I could not have imagined. I feel very privileged to be invited along on local families’ journeys I have been in contact with.

"It is a very rewarding experience to volunteer for this charity and you can do as much or as little as you are able to."

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One of the families Helle has produced a memory quilt for is Vicky, Keith, Jessica and James Newell.

Jessica, who is 5, has a life-shortening neurological condition called Leigh’s Disease and has been going to Helen & Douglas House for respite stays with her parents since September 2014.

In total,the charity's volunteers gave up 84,000 hours of their time last year which was worth £754,800 to the charity.