The parents of a boy who died of cancer can finally start searching for a plot to build a holiday home for poorly youngsters after receiving a £250,000 cheque through the post.
The money saw Katherine and Jamie Staples hit their £500,000 fund-raising target ahead of schedule.
The couple had last month won a house in Hampshire for their charity – The Harley Staples Cancer Trust – after entering a national competition.
They intended to sell the home to boost their fund-raising from £250,000 to their £500,000 target, but when Persimmon Homes – the company that ran the contest – heard of their plans, it decided to save the couple the hassle and sent them a cheque.
Katherine and Jamie, from Blaby, went to view the house two weeks ago and told the company of their plans to sell it to fund the building of a holiday home in Leicestershire.
But bosses at the firm said they would sell the home on behalf of the trust and instead sent Katherine and Jamie a £250,000 cheque.
The couple set up the charity following the death of eight-year-old Harley from a rare form of leukaemia in November 2009.
Katherine said: "When I saw the envelope come in the post, I knew what it was, but it was a very strange feeling to see all those zeros staring up at me.
"No matter how many zeros were on that cheque, it wasn't going to bring Harley back to us, and that is tough.
"But for the children who are still here, who we are trying to help through the charity, it is an amazing thing to be given all this money.
"We went to look at the house and it was lovely, but we always said we would have the home in Leicestershire.
"When we told Persimmon that we were going to sell it, it told us it would take care of it all, otherwise we would have to worry about paying taxes and charges and the rest of it.
"We are so grateful to have all that taken off our plate."
Katherine and Jamie set up the charity and set themselves a target of raising £500,000 to build Harley's House.
The aim is to give young cancer patients time away from hospitals and treatment.
The competition saw them whittled down from 3,000 entries to the final 24, when it was all down to a public vote.
Well-wishers voted in their thousands, making Harley's charity the clear winner.
Before they entered the competition, the couple had already raised £250,000 though events and donations.
They are now looking for empty plots or buildings to redevelop in the Market Bosworth area.
"The options are endless now," said Katherine. "It could be contemporary, or a big barn conversion with wood and beams. I have spoken to an architect who is going to get something visual together so we can show all the people who helped us get to this point.
"It will really depend on the plot, but I imagine it to be somewhere bright and light, with high ceilings.
"We are keeping our ears to the ground about sites in the Market Bosworth area and if anyone knows of any, then please get in touch with the charity."
Paul Hurst, managing director for Persimmon Homes North Midlands, said: "We are delighted that we have helped make Harley's House a reality. "Both Katherine and Jamie impressed everyone at Persimmon Homes with their charity efforts to leave a lasting legacy for Harley. We did everything we could to get the people of the North Midlands region behind them to make sure that they won this very special competition to celebrate our 40th Birthday. "We will continue to support The Harley Staples Cancer Trust to ensure young cancer sufferers can enjoy quality time with their immediate family."www.harleystaples.co.uk
