Black Sabbath donation to help hospice families

Michelle said Acorns' hospice had provided "a little world of acceptance and calm" for her and her son Reagan

A children's hospice says they will be able to support more families at a time when demand for its services is rising, thanks to an upcoming donation from Black Sabbath's farewell gig.

Sabbath, founded in Birmingham in 1968, are due to play their final show at Villa Park on Saturday, sparking a big build-up in the heavy metal band's home city.

The gig's proceeds will be donated to three charities - Birmingham Children's Hospital, Cure Parkinson's, and Midlands-based Acorns Children's Hospice.

"[This will enable us] to be there for more children and families," said Trevor Johnson, Acorns' CEO, who added that demand for services had more than doubled in the last two years.

Acorns, which has its headquarters in Birmingham and also runs hospices in Walsall and Worcester, currently supports 800 to 900 children every year, Mr Johnson told BBC Radio WM.

Michelle, who has used the Walsall hospice with her four-year-old son Reagan, described it as "a little world of acceptance and calm".

Acorns currently supports 800 to 900 children every year, the charity's CEO Trevor Johnson said.

Michelle added that Acorns put on "amazing" events for the children who went there and their siblings, such as Easter egg hunts, Halloween celebrations, and summer festivals.

Reagan was diagnosed with a life-threatening kidney disease shortly after he was born and needed a transplant. He spent the first two-and-a-half years of his life in and out of hospital.

"[The hospice] has been really important, it's been great, because sometimes [the experience of illness] does feel lonely," Michelle said, adding that it had been particularly helpful to meet other parents who were having similar experiences.

"As much as you can explain it to your friends and extended family members…it's really hard, unless you're in it, to understand."

Joanna Hutton, a nurse at the Walsall hospice, said all donations were "crucial"

Two of the three charities chosen to benefit from Black Sabbath's gig are Birmingham-based, while Cure Parkinsons is a cause close to home for lead singer Ozzy Osbourne, as he has largely been forced to stop touring due to the disease and spinal injuries.

Joanna Hutton, a nurse at Acorns' Walsall hospice, said all donations were "crucial" because "otherwise we can't stay open".

She added that the hospice aimed to create a home-like environment for children, with activities such as cooking and crafts, as well as daytrips.

"I think that a lot of people have a stigma around hospices. They think it's really sad, but it really isn't - it's vibrant," she said.