Ruby Appeal

2007 has been an extraordinary year for BBC Radio Leicester.

As the first local radio station in Britain, everyone at BBC Radio Leicester felt something special should be done to mark its 40th anniversary.

So it was decided that the station would launch its own charity appeal, and the Rainbows Children's Hospice near Loughborough was chosen as the beneficiary.

Listen: The Ruby Rainbow Story

The Ruby Rainbow Appeal Co-ordinator, Dave Andrews, presents a look-back at a year of events to raise money for the Rainbows Children's Hospice...

BBC Radio Leicester set itself a target of raising £400,000 for the hospice's Building for the Future project - a scheme to construct a new wing at Rainbows for teenagers.

Listeners got behind the appeal, joining in with the station's events like the Ruby Service at Leicester Cathedral, the musical show Somewhere Over The Ruby Rainbow and the Ruby Show at De Montfort Hall.

Patron Engelbert Humperdinck at Rainbows

They also organised their own events, like the men from a Leicester firm who grew rainbow moustaches and the bazaar at the Highfields Community Centre organised by the Muslim community's Friends of Al Acqsa.

Listeners also bought ruby wristbands, ruby calendars, ruby teddies and bricks to support the appeal.

In November, Dave Andrews announced at the Ruby Show that the target had been reached - a month early!

Now the appeal has continued to grow and the money its raised will benefit young people in Leicestershire for years to come.

If you'd like to make a donation to the Ruby Rainbow Appeal click the link to 'Ruby Rainbow Made Easy' on the top right-hand side of the page.