AS the local fundraising manager for CLIC Sargent, the UK’s leading children’s cancer charity, I would like to say a massive thankyou to all readers who supported us in 2008.

Last year, the people of Bristol, Bath, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire raised over £700,000 through generous donations, support for local events and from people kindly giving up their time to support the charity.

Without all this help we wouldn’t have raised such a brilliant sum.

The money raised will really make a difference to the lives of local families affected by childhood cancer.

CLIC Sargent helps families in many ways, from providing specialists in the hospital to offering help at home, and from giving grants to ease the financial burden that having a child with cancer can cause to arranging much needed family holidays.

In Avon, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire specifically, the money raised could entirely fund our homes from home where families may stay free of charge while their child is being treated in Bristol.

Additionally, it will also pay for many of our front line staff in the regional hospitals in Gloucester, Bath, Swindon, Yeovil and Taunton.

Sadly, the statistic remains that every day in the UK ten families are told their child has cancer.

CLIC Sargent will continue to help these families and I very much hope our charity will remain in your hearts.

If you would like to know more about the work of CLIC Sargent in the South-West or find out how you can help, please feel free to contact me on 0117- 3112603 or e-mail chris.banting@clicsargent.org.uk CHRIS BANTING CLIC Sargent Community Fundraising Manager