The birth of a child for most of us is a time of joy and celebration. However, in some cases, this joy can be tinged with anguish. Some are left coming to terms with looking after a baby that will never be normal and who is totally dependent on you. The excitement of having a baby turns to despair, as you ask yourself: How will I cope? How long will my baby live?

The burden placed on these families is enormous, but it is a burden people happily undertake, as they have no choice. They love these special children, but their own lives become a time-consuming, lonely existence. Demands on the NHS mean that the support for these families is limited.

This is where ROSY comes in. They provide respite nursing care to these families in their own homes.

ROSY stands for Respite nursing for Oxfordshire's Sick Youngsters. Its patron is Lady Rotherwick.

The charity helps to raise awareness of the need for respite nursing and promotes fundraising to boost the extremely limited resources of Oxfordshire's Respite Nursing Team.

"We now pay the salaries of four nurses, soon to be five, who work with the Community Children's Unit to provide additional respite care for these families," said Ali Wills, herself a volunteer for ROSY, who deals with the publicity for the charity.

ROSY will also buy equipment the families may need to have in their home to make their lives more bearable.

"In times of need, we will provide additional nursing hours," added Ali.

George Hedges, the organisation's secretary, has made ROSY what it is today.

"Our target is to raise enough money to cover and sustain the costs of extra nurses to supplement the respite team," said George. "We also aim to provide vital medical equipment the nurses need."

There are two additional respite nurses that are fully funded by ROSY, working within Oxfordshire's Children's Respite Nursing Team.

"All this has been achieved through the tremendous support we receive from the public. Fundraising activities range from a celebrity golf day to a market stall in Oxford," said George. "Our administration is sponsored by a committee member, so all the money we raise goes to those families who need it, and are so deserving of our support."

If you wish to support ROSY, your contribution could take the form of fundraising, or maybe your business or employer could sponsor a nurse, or a piece of equipment, or you may be able to spare a few hours of your time. The charity is happy to visit any organisation to talk about its work.

If you can help in any way, contact ROSY at help@rosy.org.uk, or telephone 01865 848696. Its website is www.rosy.org.uk Alternatively, you can write or send a donation to The Secretary, 80 Evans Lane, Kidlington, OX5 2JB.