THE CHARITY campaign which delivers Christmas gifts to local disadvantaged children has launched with massive support from the community.

Cash for Kids Mission Christmas puts boxes out all over the region and asks busy shoppers at this time of year to remember a child who would otherwise wake up to nothing on Christmas morning.

“It’s a sad fact that this is the reality for many hundreds of our kids” said Charity Manager Candy Rafferty. "

Last year, 703 big red sacks were received by social workers, head teachers and health professionals here. However, figures in from Save the Children reveal this is the tip of the iceberg, with over 14,000 children living in poverty here.

“We are so lucky to live in a place where this is matched by the kind hearts of the general public who donate gifts, money, and time to the campaign.”

For a second year in a row, McCreath Simpson and Prentice has been the main sponsor of Mission Christmas, with Brown Brothers and Belmont Selkirk also partnering the campaign. Volunteers from the Bank of Scotland, Eildon Housing and many individuals are coming to wrap gifts at the brand new offices of the Waverley Chambers at the Transport Interchange in Galashiels, loaned to the campaign by Scottish Borders Council.

Brown Brothers of Peebles and Redpath Tyres are both collecting gifts from over 40 drop-off points. Brown Brothers have even had their delivery van repainted as a Christmas present to mark the occasion.

Colin MacDonald of Brown Bros said: “As a family business with over 30 staff, averaging two children each, we know how important Christmas is to families. We also appreciate that not everyone is as fortunate as ourselves.

“If we don’t look after our kids, there’s no future. It’s as simple as that.

"Our van will accompany a convoy of bikers from the Borders Group of Advanced Motorcyclists as they take the first completed load of sacks from the railway station along the bypass to the radio station. Then the Radio Borders presenters will use it to get around the region as they broadcast live from various locations.”

Other businesses and individuals are running fundraising events as money is desperately needed to source gifts for those with more complex needs, and the many teenagers and babies on the lists.

Candy added: “If there is a company out there who would consider sponsoring the gifts for our teenagers, we would be able to get the lists completed much sooner. We do get a lot of toiletries donated which is lovely, but we need to add other things to their sacks.

“Imagine how wonderful it would be if we managed to attract a donation of tablets, or even gift vouchers, which would give these kids a rare opportunity to choose something for themselves.”

One further event is the display of a replica of the Flying Scotsman, constructed entirely of chocolate by world famous chocolatier Ruth Hinks, of Cocoa Black in Peebles. The project was commissioned by Morrisons Construction and has been donated to the charity for auction.

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It will be displayed at the Transport Interchange over from Friday Demeber 11 to 13. For a donation of £2, children will receive a bar of Borders Railway chocolate, courtesy of SBC, and be able to decorate a bauble for the Interchange Christmas tree. They can also post their Christmas wish, of which the best ones will be read out on the air.

People can continue donating cash to the campaign right up until Tuesday December 22, but gifts should be dropped off by Friday December 18 to give volunteers a chance to complete the wrapping in time for Christmas.

Text BORDERS to 70808 to donate £5.00, or visit the Radio Borders website www.radioborders.com/charity for more information.