The story began on September 5, 2002, with the launch of the £15m campaign, 'Little People Big Needs', to turn the dream of a children's hospital in Oxford into reality.

News of the campaign has spread all over Oxfordshire and beyond, with fund-raisers uniting to raise money for the 106-bed, tailormade centre.

The campaign for the hospital - known as CHOX for short - is well into its community phase, with £11m already raised.

The building is already rising - the ground is laid, the roof is topped out, the structure's settled, and now the inside is taking shape. Now our money's needed to pay for state-of-the-art equipment.

I'm a young patient at the Craniofacial Unit at the Oxford Radcliffe Infirmary, where I have had major surgery to my skull and brain. The facilities on the ward and outpatients are adult-mixed, the buildings are ageing, and they're not designed for children. Plus, there's no separate accommodation for adolescents.

This inspired me to help raise over £3,000 at St Birinus School, Didcot. I'm spurred on to raise hundreds more and I really hope you will be too!

This cause is so special so why not do your bit and help raise the £15m to give the county's sick children something to smile about!!

Andrew Baker, age 16, CHOX Campaign