ASDA Living in Altrincham is asking shoppers to buy an extra present and donate it to a charity by dropping it into a special Christmas Gift Appeal trolley. The store that sells clothing, toys, health and beauty products has chosen Francis House Children’s Hospice for its Gift Appeal.

Children and young adults with life-limiting conditions come to the Didsbury children's hospice for respite care provided 365 days a year.

The whole family including parents and carers, brothers and sisters, can come and stay for short breaks in a home from home environment.

The hospice, celebrating its 21st Birthday this year, has seven sick children’s bedrooms, seven double family bedrooms, a Jacuzzi, music and creative therapy rooms.

It also offers aromatherapy massage to give the parents a relaxing break from their role as carers. The hospice has around 1,200 sick children, young adults and family members in its care at any one time.

Shoppers can choose to show their support for a sick child, teenager or young adult or their parents and family members, by donating any gift they choose to purchase from the store.

The Gift Appeal trolley is situated at the main check outs at the front of the store. Francis House will then wrap and distribute the gifts to the children and families that are staying at the hospice for respite care.

The Gift Appeal is running until December 21 but presents will be collected all throughout December to distribute to the children and families.

Francis House provides care for 230 children and young people a year from all over the north west. The care team provide skilled nursing care in a homely environment.

It costs £3.5 million a year to keep Francis House running.

A new extension is currently being constructed, doubling the size of Francis House. The extended hospice, due to be completed mid-2013 running costs will increase to approximately £4.6 million.

More news on the Gift Appeal can be seen at www.greenroom.asda.com