YOU can often find Alex Jordon competing on the PlayStation or splashing around in the Acorns hydrotherapy pool.

For the 11-year-old from St Peter's, Worcester, the hospice on Bath Road has become a second home.

Since it opened in March 2005, Alex and his whole family have been using the hospice and all its extended care services. His mum Cal, aged 40, sees it as a safe environment for respite care.

She said: "I can always trust the staff to provide a safe and fun environment for Alex - which is great when I need extra time to myself."

Cal, Alex, nine-year-old sister Carenza and dad Martin, aged 41, have become very close to the care team at Acorns and as a way of saying thank you the family have, for the second year running, given them something special in return.

It all began last December when Alex and Carenza hosted a joint birthday pool party at the Malvern Splash swimming pool.

With Alex's big heart, cheeky smile and bubbly personality he has got many friends, and that means he gets lots of presents.

But because he suffers from a lack of mobility he takes steroids as part of his medication and he often gets the munchies. That means what he eats has to be monitored and he can't eat all the lovely chocolate that's so often bought for him.

This gave Cal a wonderful idea and last year she asked all the party goers to bring a gift for an adult instead of for Alex and all those gifts were then given to the Acorns hospice staff who make her family's life easier. This year they've done it again and Cal got presents for all 43 paid staff and a huge basket of goodies for the 130 volunteers.

The presents have been wrapped by the children and will be handed out after Christmas lunch on Wednesday, December 20.

The family's special gesture is testament to the care that they receive at Acorns, care that is supported by wonderful donations from the public.

Cal said: "My Acorns community team worker, Jan Large, has become a rock of support to me and Alex over the last year and a half.

She added that Carenza calls Sarah Jasper, the Acorns sibling support worker, her best friend.

"These people make such a difference in Alex's life," said Cal, "and to think that their positions are funded almost purely by public donations is a tremendous feat by our community."

Donations to Acorns help recruit and train the various care and nursing staff who give special services to those who need it.

These people are a vital link between hospice, hospital and home for the hundreds of families who use Acorns' care.

THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO DONATE

The hospice is reliant on fund-raising to support its services, receiving little funding from the Government.

The Christmas Spirit 365 campaign aims to make every day as special as Christmas day for the children and their families.

The message is simple - please don't forget Acorns - and remember this Christmas that there are many ways to donate.

For example local companies can buy a bauble' for the Acorns Christmas tree and shoppers can buy special prize-winning Christmas chocolate bars from the Acorns shop in Mealcheapen Street, Worcester. Winners of a lucky snowman' wrapper must answer a simple question to win a Sony PlayStation. There's also the chance to win a one-week holiday for two at the Jolly Beach Hotel in Antigua, if you take part in the Acorns grand-prize Christmas raffle. Second prize is £1,000 cash, third prize is a relaxing spa weekend break.

Raffle tickets cost £1 and be purchased at the shop or direct from Acorns on its Christmas fund-raising hotline 0800 073 0001.

You can also text the word ACORNS to 84858 to make a £3 donation, and a host of Christmas goodies, from cards to virtual gifts, are available online at www.acorns.org.uk.