East Oxford hospice Helen and Douglas House is laying on a series of events to mark Children’s Hospice Week, which starts tomorrow.

The theme of the week is ‘heroes’ and some of the youngsters who receive respite care at the hospice, in Leopold Street, along with their brothers and sisters, have produced masks and colourful artwork on the subject.

Ideas range from very personal heroes, such as ‘my dad’ or ‘my sister’ to characters like Superman.

Hospice head of fundraising Jo Mitchell said: “The important thing about the theme of heroes is it enables you to interpret it in your own way.

“It is a way of us talking about all the different heroes there are – and a big part of that is the heroes in the community, who are volunteering and supporting us, while the children and families are heroes in their own ways too.”

Events start with a hero-themed tea party tomorrow for children and families staying at Helen House.

They will be joined by some of the young adults from Douglas House, staff and volunteers.

Biscuit and mask-making, a balloon modeller and other entertainment will keep guests busy.

Throughout the week, artwork created by the youngsters will be on display in the hospice.

Next Friday, senior staff from the national charity Children’s Hospices UK will set off on the ‘Big Boss Ride’.

The cyclists will ride 90 miles from Helen House, the first children’s hospice, to the newest one, Demelza South East London, in Eltham.

Helen House founder Sister Frances Dominica will see the team off.

The week will also launch a new event, the Daybreaker 26-mile sponsored marathon walk, which starts at Christ Church Meadows in Oxford at dawn and ends in Abingdon.

Mrs Mitchell said: “We are hopefully going to see a lovely sunrise and I think there will be a great atmosphere.”

She added: “Hopefully it will be an event which will grow over the years, and will be a day to remember.”

It costs £4.5m each year to run Helen and Douglas House, much coming from donations.

Mrs Mitchell added: “Although a lot of people have heard of Helen and Douglas House, sometimes people think because it is well known we are well supported and we are all right financially, but actually we need constant replenishment of funds.”

For information about the hospice, visit helenand douglas.org.uk and for Hospice Week go to the website childhospice.org.uk