A home away from home is how one young patient has described her stay at Bristol Children's Hospital as she thanked those who transformed her life.

Harriet Alden, 14, who lives in Brentry, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when she was just two years old.

The condition, where damage occurs to the brain, affected her movement and twisted muscles and bones meant it was often very painful and awkward for her to walk.

It was not until she experienced the "five-star treatment" at the Bristol hospital – surgery to straighten her legs and continuing after-care and physiotherapy – that she was able to walk the long road to recovery.

Yesterday the Evening Post helped to launch Bristol's Big Give, a three-day radio broadcast to raise funds for Wallace and Gromit's Grand Appeal.

Both today and tomorrow listeners can tune in and make a donation as Bristol's Heart breakfast team set up a temporary studio in the hospital.

Harriet's parents Bev, 48, and Gary, 49, said they found the care at the hospital faultless and urged people to support the appeal.

Mrs Alden, a midwife, said: "As a parent you are always critical and as someone who works in the health profession, I was probably even more so, but the service surpassed all my expectations.

"Harriet had the operation two years ago and has to have physio every day. She goes to the hospital as an outpatient once a month.

"It is a centre of excellence, it is gold standard. Her physiotherapist is a visionary and always working to get the best for the children.

"Parents of disabled children normally have to fight for everything to ensure they get the best care but after the operation, all the different people involved in Harriet's care – her school, her GP, the community physio, the hospital physio, worked together and as parents we could just concentrate on getting her better.

"We're so lucky to have this facility in Bristol. So many children don't have access to this level of care. It's so obvious Harriet has had the right amount of support."

Harriet said she found the hospital "really homely" and was always encouraged to play, read and listen to music.

She said: "I did all sorts while I was in hospital.

"When my sister Alex came to visit she was always encouraged to join in too.

"There was a playroom with air hockey, loads of magazines, which I love, and play specialists.

"I'm really grateful to everyone at the hospital for how well they looked after me."

Bristol's Big Give takes place on December 3, 4 and 5. This year the appeal is raising money for additional medical equipment, a new interactive area in the hospital's emergency department, with games, PCs and other features designed to entertain and engage children, as well as facilities for a new family accommodation suite.

To make a donation, call the Big Give Donation Line on 0117 929 8888 or donate online at www.heartbristol.co.uk.

Cash donations can be made in the main foyer of the Bristol Children's Hospital and at the collection point in Cabot Circus shopping centre.

Visit www.bristolsbig give.co.uk for more details.