AN INSPIRING mum is being helped in her work to support families of children with cancer thanks to a £9,000 windfall.

Cheshire Community Foundation has given the grant to Northwich-based charity The Joshua Tree, which was founded by Lynda and David Hill after their youngest son Josh was diagnosed with leukaemia.

He is now 15 and in remission.

Their eventual aim is to build a support centre and holiday home in Sandiway where families can have free short breaks.

They are already helping 30 families from their interim support centre and headquarters in Venables Road and have launched the Dig Deep campaign to raise the £250,000 needed to build the permanent support centre in Sandiway.

The grant is to help towards Lynda's salary.

She said: "The Joshua Tree provides practical, emotional, counselling and educational support to families who have a child with cancer.

"I've been there as a parent and my role's now changed.

"This grant from the foundation will help considerably as we try to raise funds to build our new multi-purpose support centre by 2016."

Cheshire Community Foundation has awarded almost £1.5 million to more than 400 organisations in the three years since it was set up.

Helen O'Donnell, chief executive, said: "We're a charitable business working to change the face of philanthropy across Cheshire and Warrington.

"We're doing this by helping philanthropists invest strategically in the community where they live so their social investment has the most impact in areas of greatest need.

"By making giving easy, enjoyable and engaging we're inspiring these local people and businesses to engage with voluntary organisations which are addressing local need and solving local problems."

The foundation has an endowment of £4 million allowing it to award grants in perpetuity and help not-for-profit organisations.

For more information ring Cheshire Community Foundation on 01606 330607.

For more information about The Joshua Tree visit thejoshuatree.org.uk