A SALISBURY charity is calling on businesses, schools and organisations to hold their own fundraising events to help families living with serious illnesses.

Lucy’s Days Out was set up by the family of Lucy Page to provide families with seriously ill children with fun days out. Lucy died in September 2010 after a six-year battle with cancer and her dying wish was to set up a local charity to help other families like hers.

Lucy would have celebrated her 16th birthday later this month, on January 24, and her mother Julie is asking local companies and organisations to organise fundraising events across Salisbury to mark what will be a very sad milestone for her family.

She said: “I thought it would be nice to mark her special birthday and people could hold cake sales or coffee mornings, have a dress down day or wear something purple, as that was Lucy’s favourite colour. We’ve already got a lot of local schools that have said they will support us but I want businesses to get involved as well.”

The charity has already helped more than 250 families and raised more than £48,000. Mrs Page hopes it can help another 90 families this year and there is already waiting list of 20, but needs lots of support and fundraising to be able to achieve that.

For more information contact Lucy’s Days Out on 01722 325485, email info@lucysdaysout.org or go to facebook.com/LucysDaysOut.