£100,000 gift in honour of little Ella

Staff at Abbey House raised £5,000 by holding 'dressing down' days - with that figure being doubled by the company they work for.

And after reading of seven-month-old Ella Hudson's plight in the Telegraph & Argus they decided to invite her and her mother, Sarah Wilson, to be guests of honour when they presented the money to staff from Martin House Hospice for Children.

Abbey National administrator Peter McAndrew said: "We were really touched by Ella's story. We've been raising money for Martin House Hospice for a total of three years and to know our efforts are helping local children makes it feel all the more worthwhile."

Mr McAndrew said staff had chosen to support the Boston Spa hospice after reading about cystic fibrosis sufferer Joe Whaling in the T&A.

Joe, of Oakenshaw, Bradford, died aged nine two years ago at the hospice after a long battle against his illness.

Ella, of Brookfield View, Cleckheaton, suffers from Krabbes disease which will gradually shut down her brain.

She inherited the rare genetic condition as her parents - Sarah, 30, and Paul Hudson, 32 - both have a weak gene. Ella is one of around 20 infants with the condition in Britain and is not expected to survive into her second year.

Sarah, who first took Ella to Martin House in January, said: "We were desperate when we went there and they changed our lives. They put Ella on a course of drugs and she came back a different baby. Going there gives us a chance to rest, too."

She added: "I think it's great that the Abbey National staff support the hospice because the place relies on donations to run."

A CHARITY auction and disco is to be held by Sarah's mother, landlady Cathy Hughes, to raise money for the hospice. Lots at the event, at Cleckheaton's Prospect Hall Hotel on Easter Monday, will include tickets for shows and Premier League football games.

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