Student prank? Sign stolen from children's cancer centre at QMC hospital

THE sign on the front gate of a home which cares for children with cancer has been stolen.

The slate sign, which cost around £200, was donated to Billy's House as a goodwill gesture.

But the sign went missing from the front gate of the six-bedroom house in Derby Road near to the Queen's Medical Centre last week.

Bosses believe it may have been a "student prank".

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Children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent runs the building and described it as a "home from home" for the families of children being treated at the hospital.

The home has not yet informed police of the theft in the hope that whoever has taken it might return it after reading this story.

Nichola Doran, fundraising manager for CLIC Sargent, said: "We just want it back. We think it might have been taken as a prank by students.

"But it was the only way of telling the parents who need to bring their children here of where we are.

"The sign was donated to us by people who had raised cash for the charity and we would like someone to return it.

"We don't want to get anyone into trouble. If people know where it is they can return it to the main reception at the Queen's Medical Centre if they think that is safer."

A spokesman for Billy's House said: "We think it is just a prank and someone has taken it, but they do not realise the gravity of what they have done."

The home opened in June 2009 after Laura Greenall, from Ashbourne, in Derbyshire, whose son Billy was treated for kidney cancer at the QMC, raised £1.9 million.

A photo of Billy still stands on the fireplace of the communal lounge in the house.

The house features six bedrooms, five bathrooms, communal kitchens and lounge, and a room for teenagers, which was designed by TV star Laurence Llewelyn Bowen.

Anyone who knows where the sign is can contact Nichola by e-mailing nichola.doran@clicsargent.org.uk

Alternatively they can call the home on 0115 942 1517.