Fundraisers aiming to keep a children’s hospice running to help youngsters like six-year-old Willow Harris have hit their £1 million target in just six weeks.

Willow and her mum Elaine are being supported by Noah’s Ark hospice in Barnet, which needs crucial funds to help cover some of its £6m-a-year costs .

Donations made during the six-week campaign were doubled on October 20 in a 36-hour ‘dash’ to reach the target.

Schools, businesses and other wellwishers put on 44 events to raise money, with 200 supporters volunteering to be ‘champions’ to promote the work of the hospice that cares for youngsters with terminal illness.

A film of the campaign was made featuring Elaine Furze from Mill Hill and her daughter Willow, who was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, a rare genetic condition, at just 18 months.

“Taking part in the film was a memory that we treasure,” Elaine said. “I wanted to give something back to the hospice for all the support and joy they’ve given us and to raise awareness of Willow’s condition.”

The theme of the documentary is “from that moment” a diagnosis is made, showing Elaine’s journey from pregnancy to fear when she realised her child had a serious condition.

It also includes a poem written for Noah’s Ark by poet Charlie Brogan, voiced by palliative care doctor and author Kathryn Mannix, who is an advocate for better understanding of death and dying.

Hospice chief executive Sophie Andrews said: “We have reached our £1 million goal thanks to people’s generosity. This is vital as 83 per cent of our income is from voluntary donations.

“These crucial funds will help us be there for the children and families who need us.”

Supporters included celebrities like comedian Stephen Merchant, Tottenham Hotspur players James Maddison and Brandon Austin and photographer Rankin.

Wellwishers can still donate to the campaign at www.charityextra.com/fromthatmoment.

The hospice in High Barnet takes referrals from the London boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington, as well as Hertsmere further out. It helps babies, children and young people with life-limiting or threatening conditions to make the most of every day.

The charity supports those who die young to do so in as much comfort as possible, surrounded by their family. It organises fun activities and days out, helping them enjoy life as children rather than patients and treating their parents and siblings as families rather than just carers.