EAST Oxford children’s hospice Helen & Douglas House is to issue a heartfelt thanks to the family of Ivan Cameron after donations to the hospice in his memory reached nearly £7,000.

The hospice, in Magdalen Road, was one of five named by Witney MP and Conservative Party leader David Cameron and his wife Samantha to benefit following their six-year-old son’s death in February.

Since the Camerons asked for money to be donated in memory of Ivan the day after he died, 52 separate donations were made to the hospice, totalling £6,816.

Jo Mitchell, head of fundraising at the hospice, said: “It was lovely we were mentioned in the first place and obviously it’s not something we were expecting. I think the amount we received was fantastic. There were a couple of larger donations, but most were fairly normal amounts.”

Ivan suffered from severe cerebral palsy and a rare form of epilepsy and died after being taken ill suddenly.

He and his family had been to Helen House for respite care.

Mrs Mitchell said: “When we receive donations in memory of a child who we have cared for, it is particularly tinged with sadness with what has happened.

“But I know the families are always just thrilled that something positive comes out of it and feel it is lovely another child can be looked after and supported because of people’s generosity.”

Helen & Douglas House hospice chief executive Tom Hill wrote to the family shortly after Ivan’s death to send sympathies from the staff at the hospice and Mrs Mitchell said he would be writing to the Camerons again this week.

She said: “We will let them know the total and number of donations and say how much that will mean to people here.”

The money donated could pay for a nurse at the hospice, which provides respite care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions, for two months.