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Birmingham Children's Hospital and ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ WM are celebrating the end of their Kidney Kids Appeal having smashed their target of £1.5million

The final amount was announced on Friday 30 October by Phil Upton on the Breakfast programme, 16 months after the appeal was launched by ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ WM and Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Thanks to the support and generosity of ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ WM listeners and the general public, the Kidney Kids Appeal total now stands at £1,507,106 46p.

Speaking shortly after revealing the final total live on air, an ecstatic Phil Upton said: "It is absolutely fantastic that in the current economic climate that we were able to raise this much money and it's a tribute to the generosity of the people of the West Midlands."

The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ WM Kidney Kids Appeal campaign aims to make a big difference to the lives of children receiving kidney treatment at Birmingham Children's Hospital by contributing to a new kidney unit at one of the world's leading children's hospitals.

The unit treats children with a range of kidney problems, and 1,500 young patients visit the nephrology (kidney) and urology department every year to receive dialysis, and other treatments, including transplants.

Since the launch of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ WM Kidney Kids Appeal, in July 2008, the station has organised a range of money-raising schemes and events to help reach the magical £1.5million, most recently hosting a celebrity-studded musical concert at the Jam House with a special guest appearance from Robert Plant.

Other fund-raising schemes included an old mobile phone collection; jewellery collections; a Soul and Motown party; sponsored bike rides; a football mascot race and a Big Sit Still where 12,500 school children from across the West Midlands took part in a sponsored sit still and quiet time during a lesson or break-time.

People from across the region have also given up their time to work tirelessly towards raising £1.5million for the appeal, with local and national celebrities chipping in too: Dragons' Den stars Theo Paphites, Duncan Bannatyne and James Caan have all donated £1,000 each, with Dave Heeley (aka Blind Dave) running in the London Marathon to raise money towards the current total.

Further information on the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ WM Kidney Kids Appeal and the events that have helped raise the total so far can be found at www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/local_radio.

BJO