SO far at least 20 families blighted by terminal illness have been able to enjoy special days thanks to a cash boost from a multi millionaire.

St Helens-based charity, The HoneyRose Foundation, which grants adults with terminal illnesses an occasion never to forget, featured recently in Channel 4’s Secret Millionaire.

As reported in the St Helens Star three weeks ago, plumbing tycoon Charlie Mullins from London, handed over a cheque for £20,000 to the charity’s founder Lynn Duffy, after seeing their tireless work at close hand.

A delighted Lynn said: “Most of it has gone already as we had more than 60 families waiting to be helped.

“Unfortunately some people don’t make it, as with the nature of their illnesses situations can change quickly.

“But when we do have the finance available, we are quick in getting things organised.

“Thanks to the cash we have recently been able to send people on the London Eye and to see a West End show. I would like to stress however that we were never struggling as a charity, which has been reported elsewhere. We went into our overdraft, but we were never in “financial meltdown.”

Lynn stressed that many of the families, such as those featured in the TV programme, are 24 hour a day carers and rely on HoneyRose to organise every detail of the event.

She stressed: “We don’t do this because people don’t have money to spend on their loved ones.

“We do it to ease their burden, even if it is for a short while.”