The Birmingham Post is giving its support to the Birmingham Children's Hospital Red Balloon Appeal for a new Burn Centre.
One in every two children suffering from severe burns are treated by staff at the Midlands' only specialist centre.
Every year over 1,000 people are taken to hospital with life-threatening burns injuries - and half of those are children. Birmingham Children's Hospital currently treats about 250 patients needing acute or critical care.
Historically there were only three burns beds and one high-dependency bed set aside for the worst cases.
While about 60 would receive on-going, in-patient care at Selly Oak Hospital, the rest relied on ageing facilities at the Children's Hospital.
For a centre which served a regional population of 5.5 million, it was a seriously limited resource.
But in October the hospital's new #19 million burns unit will officially open, which will more than double available space to nine beds.
The Burn Centre will care for one out of every two children in England with severe burns and be the first stand-alone unit of its kind in Europe.
However to finish the project, the trust needs to raise just over #500,000 which is why it has launched the Red Balloon Appeal.
A second wave of fundraising aims to raise #1.5 million to reinstate the hospital's helipad – currently located in Lancaster Place - which was decommissioned by the Civil Aviation Authority on December 31, 2004.
Max is a real marvel
Health Correspondent Emma Brady met a young patient who has survived against the odds.
Like many teenagers Max McPherson is taking his GCSEs this week – but the fact he is taking them at all is truly remarkable.
After an accident at his Solihull home in June 2005 left him with 90 per cent burns, he is lucky to be alive. Max is the first person in Britain to have survived such horrific injuries, and the only person in the world since 1975 to do so.
Aside from severe scarring, he lost several fingers and some of the toes on his left foot, but this has not dented his determination to live life to the full.
Max's amazing recovery is in large part due to the expert care he received at Birmingham Children's Hospital from the intensive care and critical care teams, burns specialists, speech therapists, physiotherapists, nurses, doctors and a play specialist.
One in every two children with serious burns is brought to this hospital, but from October they will be treated at a new #19 million burns unit – the first of its kind in Europe.
But the hospital has launched the Red Balloon Appeal to secure the remaining #500,000 to ensure it is ready for patients in five months.
Already the 16-year-old, of Chelmsley Wood, has endured more than 30 operations and will continue to need surgery for the rest of his life.
Max spilt some of the oil and petrol mix he was putting into his mini motorcycle, but somehow it was ignited and he was engulfed in flames.
"I don't really remember a great deal about how exactly it happened but I tore my clothes off to put the fire out, and I remember a neighbour taking me up to my Nan's and putting me in the bath," he said.
"I had no clothes on and my skin was all black, but I thought that was soot or something that would wash off. I didn't think the burns were life-threatening as I didn't feel any pain. The next thing I remember is being taken to Heartlands before waking up in intensive care at the Children's Hospital.
"My consultant didn't expect me to survive; he thought I was going to die, but part of me just kept on fighting. I know I'm lucky to be here, though."
During his six months on the hospital's ageing burns ward, which only had room for four patients, in excess of 70 specialists, carers, medics and auxiliary staff were involved in his treatment.
While in intensive care, Max remembers his mother sitting by his bedside singing to him.
"She was singing Everything's Going To Be Alright to me, I remember that. I'd already had 14-hour and 12-hour operations and doctors didn't think I was going to survive but I'm really proud that I did," he said.
"I'll be having operations for the rest of my life, just little touch-ups. I'm okay with that and I go to Selly Oak every three months now for a check-up."
Clare Thomas, lead burns nurse at the Children's Hospital, said treating patients like Max is a team effort. She added that bringing all relevant surgical, clinical, and rehabilitative services under one roof in the new unit will bring improved patient outcomes.
"From anaesthetists to physiotherapists and psychologists, caring for patients like Max is very much a team effort, as everyone is working towards discharge, to ensure a good recovery," said Miss Thomas.
"He began his journey in intensive care before he was moved on to the ward, so already there's two teams treating him, plus the specialist and auxiliary staff. There were probably as many as 70 people involved in his treatment.
"Max had severe, life-threatening injuries when he came to us. He is a fantastic example of what can be done now to help burn survivors."
How you can help boost the Red Balloon Appeal
Online: Visit www.redballoonappeal.co.uk – hit the donate now button and follow the instructions
Telephone Call 0121 333 8525 to make a credit card donation
In person Pop into the West Bromwich Building Society to make a cash or cheque donation. To find you nearest branch, just call 0845 456 7310
By post Send a cheque or Charities Aid Foundation voucher with your donation form to: Red Balloon Appeal Office, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, B4 6NH
