THE Northern Echo has a long, proud association with the Butterwick Hospice.

It goes back to the death of Princess Diana in a car crash in Paris in 1997, when the paper saw an opportunity to find something positive amid the wreckage of such terrible news.

During a news conference in the aftermath of Diana's death, it was suggested that the Echo should capitalise unashamedly on the wave of emotion that had been inspired by the tragedy.

We had been running stories about how the North-East was the only English region without a children's hospice. Foundations had been laid at the Butterwick Hospice, adjacent to North Tees General Hospital at Stockton, but there was insufficient money to finish the work.

The Diana tragedy proved to be the catalyst for a campaign by The Northern Echo that was to lead to completion of the much-needed project.

Support poured in and around £500,000 was raised over the next year. On September 18, 1998, Take That star Gary Barlow cut the ribbon to formally open the children's wing of Butterwick Hospice Care.

Since that day, the Butterwick Children’s Hospice has been providing a priceless service for those families in the North-East who are unfortunate enough to need hospice care for their children.

And that's why The Northern Echo has a special bond with the Butterwick, and why the paper feels compelled to get behind the charity as it strives to rebuild confidence.

Like everyone else, we were shocked by the inexcusable actions of the Butterwick's crooked former chief executive. But we feel it is our duty to again lend our support to an organisation, which was founded by the inspirational Mary Butterwick to provide a place where people could die with dignity.

We hope you will join us in our latest campaign.