A CHEQUE for £200 was presented to Ellie’s Haven by Launceston Community Market last Friday.

Ellie’s Haven was founded in November 2007, by Julie and Nigel Libby, to offer a holiday service to children with life limiting and prolonged illnesses, and their families.

The ‘special place for special children’ has been designed to help families with disabled children have a stress-free holiday.

It is in a peaceful, secluded location in the Looe Valley, and is equipped with built-in hoists, an assisted bath and a sensory studio — an Aladdin’s cave of specialised equipment aimed at helping children with special needs develop a wide range of skills.

The property is tagged by the ambulance service so that emergencies are dealt with rapidly. The charity was inspired by Ellie, their daughter, who sadly passed away on January 5, 2012, a few weeks before her seventh birthday and also in memory of her brother Thomas who passed away at an even younger age.

The charity has raised more than £800,000 to purchase and adapt the property and it welcomed its first guests in November 2015.

For more information about the charity and how to book holidays visit www.ellies-haven.org.uk/

Launceston Community Market donates all of its proceeds to local charities. Visit the market on a Friday morning in the Central Methodist Church.

The cheque was presented by Maryanne Parsons to Andy Godsall, Ellie’s Haven trustee.