Hang on to a Dream

Hang on to a Dream - the brainchild of former Otley Mayor Nigel Francis - gets its name from a song by Dutch pop group BZN - Holland's answer to Swedish supergroup Abba.

And its aim is to take seriously and terminally ill children on dream trips - whether it's a ride in a helicopter or to see their favourite football team or snooker player.

The charity, run from Coun Francis's home in Pearsons Buildings, works closely with the Martin House Hospice in Boston Spa - a centre that takes seriously and terminally ill children and young people from all over West Yorkshire.

It is believed to be the first regional charity of its sort in the country with all money donated going directly to the cause.

Any money needed for administration costs is raised through activities such as the sale of second hand records at the filling station in Gay Lane, Otley where Coun Francis works. "Our charity doesn't take money out for administration costs. All the money we are given goes directly into helping the children," said Coun Francis.

The charity has just been given £4,000 from the Otley Victorian Fayre Committee and more and more people are donating money as its work gets better known. "I was really grateful to the Victorian Fayre committee, the money will certainly go to a good cause," he says.

Coun Francis, who has a wife Diane and a nine month old baby, Callum, added he had always wanted to set up his own charity and had taken the opportunity when being made deputy mayor of Otley in 1995.

Having decided he wanted to help young people he set about finding a local hospice to work with and eventually came up with Martin House.

"Being a local charity, it is better to help a lot of children locally rather than just a few outside the region," he said.

Public response to the charity in the Otley area has been very good and there has been many cash donations. "People have been willing to donate because the money goes directly to the cause."

Hang on To a Dream has so far organised more than 20 successful cases, including three helicopter trips, a trip to see a top snooker match and the replacement of a

computer playstation.

One of the cases which stands out in Mr Francis' mind is when they organised for a teenage girl in a wheelchair to attend The World Snooker Championships, organised with the help of Cuemaster in Scotland, and meet Ronnie O'Sullivan.

"It was wonderful. We received VIP treatment and were given special passes to allow us to go anywhere in the building. We were even allowed in the player's lounge and every player who came through spoke us as if they had known us for years.

"A lovely finishing touch was when Ronnie O'Sullivan gave the girl a bow tie as a gift. I can't describe the feeling when a case is successful. The look on the children's faces is something money just can't buy."

The child's whole day out is organised from arranging the taxi to pick the child up, to providing lunch and getting them home again.

Another time just before Christmas last year the charity was called upon when a child's Christmas presents - a computer playstation and camera - were stolen.

"The mother was so upset she didn't want to celebrate Christmas because her son was heartbroken."

A replacement playstation and camera were bought by Hang on To a Dream and posted by express delivery to get there in time.

"We had to work quite fast on this one. It was achieved in just five days. I received the call at the weekend and the gifts were in the post, all wrapped and arriving the day before Christmas Eve."

The most expensive case the charity has been involved with is the organisation of helicopter rides.

"This is quite common as there seem to be a lot of children who want to go up in a helicopter" says Coun Francis.

The cost of a helicopter ride is usually around £500, but it is certainly well worth the money when the children enjoy themselves so much.

Although many of the cases are very successful, there is the odd occasion where they fall through.

One of the biggest cases the charity was working on was a trip to Paris for a 14-year-old boy. The event took two months to organise and was almost complete when the boy's mother changed her mind and

no longer wanted to go through with it.

The main fundraising event for Hang on To a Dream is the Otley Vintage Transport Extravaganza, which is organised by the charity and takes place in the late summer.

The proceeds from this went towards the costs of office equipment, in particular a photocopier, which is essential in helping to deal with all the paperwork.

Now, the business side of the charity is done from the Francis's converted loft.

"It's all quite challenging because everything needs to be kept to a minimum, especially leaflets which are produced for advertising - unfortunately we can't afford to do glossy leaflets because we just don't have the money," says Coun Francis.

This year, Hang on To A Dream is hoping to expand by visiting hospitals in Sheffield, Leeds, Bradford and Harrogate and even as far afield as York, giving dreams to as many children as possible.

Although there is some hassle involved with running a charity, Mr Francis says it is well worth it and he loves to meet all the children.

"I really enjoy it and it keeps me out of mischief. Even when local businesses are struggling, they still want to help out and donations over the last twelve months have been very good."

Looking towards the future for Hang on To A Dream, the next case coming up towards March is a five-year-old girl from Selby, suffering from Leukaemia.

Anyone interested in donating money to the charity should contact Nigel Francis on (01943) 463502.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.