Acclaimed student website raises cash for Guardian Angels

3:23pm Thursday 25th October 2007

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A NEW website that clocks up money for our Guardian Angels Appeal every time somebody logs on has been nominated for a national award.

The ambitious internet enterprise is called The Yorker and was the idea of a group of students from the University of York.

Since its official launch on October 8, there have been 3,400 unique visitors to the site, which gives students access to campus news and events.

Today, the website was nominated as "best website of the year" in The Guardian Media Awards, and next month students will attend a ceremony in London.

Charlotte Chung, marketing officer for The Yorker, said: "We are really excited. We have only just had our official launch and we didn't expect to be nominated so soon.

"We've got a team of about 70 students who contribute to the website, and we're the only student website that updates news 24 hours a day."

The website's success is good news for our Guardian Angels Appeal, because all proceeds from advertising revenue go straight to the campaign.

Charlotte, who is a third-year history and politics student, said: "We wanted to do something that would make a difference to the people of York.

"The Guardian Angels Appeal is such a good cause and we will actually be able to see how our money has helped when the high-dependency unit is built."

Businesses who advertise on The Yorker pay £3 for every 1,000 times their page is viewed.

This means web surfers can help raise funds for our appeal simply by logging onto the website at www.theyorker.co.uk.

The appeal could get an even bigger boost next month if the website wins the top prize at The Guardian Media Awards.

Charlotte said: "The winner gets £1,000 cash and we'll definitely be giving some of that to the appeal if we win."

The Press Guardian Angels appeal aims to raise £300,000 for a new high-dependency unit for York Hospital's children's ward.

The money will fund two life-saving high-dependency rooms with new, specialised equipment.

It will mean many more youngsters can be treated in York rather than having to be transferred further afield, to cities like Leeds.

These children could be suffering from illnesses including meningitis, septicemia, breathing difficulties, viral chest infections, obstructions of the voice box, severe asthma, bronchiolitis, convulsions or coma and physical injury.

A specialist nurse will care solely for these high-dependency children and other staff will be trained to get the most out of the improvements.