A charity which cares for some of the region's sickest children has launched its own money-spinning scheme after losing out on funding from the national lottery.

A charity which cares for some of the region's sickest children has launched its own money-spinning scheme after losing out on funding from the national lottery.

From this week, supporters of Each Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) can buy a £1 lottery ticket for the charity's draw and help support its work with life-threatened children and their families.

EACH, which has hospices at Quidenham, near Thetford, Milton, near Cambridge, and Ipswich, relies on public donations and two years ago had its annual funding of £600,000 from the national lottery withdrawn.

Under the initiative it will receive a profit of around eight times more than the 5p given to charities under the national lottery. Although the top prize is of lower value, ticket-holders have 10 times better odds of scooping the £1,500 jackpot than winning a prize of similar value in the national draw. More information on the hospice lottery can be obtained by asking for a leaflet on the local rate line 0845 1220772 or by downloading a copy at www.localhospicelottery.org.

EACH's annual fundraising event in Norfolk, Ride for Life is a day of on and off-road cycle rides for all the family. It takes place at Thetford Forest on May 18. Call 01953 715559 for an application form or enter online at www.each.org.uk