By Craig Robertson

ONE year ago this week, we set out to help raise money to build a second children’s hospice on the banks of Loch Lomond. 
CHAS needs £10 million to build and run this hospice. 
Our initial target was £250,000 within two years.
Privately, we were confident we’d do better than that because we know how generous Sunday Post readers are when it comes to deserving causes. 
And it’s hard to think of any more deserving than this.
Yet even we were astonished when we passed the £250,000 mark before January was out. We were flabbergasted when we crashed through half a million and amazed that we have hit the magic million as the first year of the campaign came to a close.
Effort
It has been some effort — a year we’ll never forget.
In the first weeks of the campaign, money arrived with every post. 
Cheques, notes and silver turned up at the offices of The Sunday Post and CHAS in huge amounts. 
We won’t forget the boy who sent in two £1 coins as he “wanted the poor children to have his pocket money”. We still remember the two ladies who brought £700 in cash to our Glasgow office and left without even giving their names.
Day by day, week by week, your cash continued to pour in.
Bravery
You were touched by the bravery of youngsters like Robyn Watterson, Aimee Galloway, Michael Tobin and Kyle Adams. You were moved by the plight of Stefan Darling, Gemma O’Byrne, Gerard Garvey and Hannah Charles. And many more besides.
Every time we told the story of a child who was attending Rachel House, the response was immediate. Your kindness knew no depths.
And the money is desperately needed for the new hospice, so that more of Scotland’s children with life-limiting illnesses can benefit from the wonderful treatment CHAS can give them.
Everyone at The Sunday Post who has been part of this campaign has been moved by the families they have spoken to. We are delighted that you, too, have been moved enough to dig deep to help them.
Whether it was a child’s pocket money or tens of thousands raised at a high-profile event like the Spirit of Youth Concert, whether it was tatty fivers or five-figured cheques, every penny has helped towards that marvellous million pounds.
But, amazing as it sounds, it is only the start. There are lots of events planned so that, with your continued help, we can hit even higher heights.
Next month, bowler Richard Corsie will start a year-long stint when every penny of prize money he wins will go to the campaign.
There will be a major auction of memorabilia donated by some of the biggest names in worldwide entertainment.
We’ll even be selling off a unique bottle of whisky given to our campaign by none other than Her Majesty the Queen.
Until then, our heartfelt thanks to the school pupils, the Brownies, the line dancers and the cyclists. Thanks to the RAF, the bikers, the cabin crew and the golfers. Thanks to everyone who has made and is still making the effort to raise a penny or a pound.