THE festive season is nearly upon us - and needy children are once again set to have a Christmas to remember thanks to a Sheffield charity.
The Star has teamed up with good cause Help A Child Have A Chance for the 12 Days Of Christmas appeal, offering young people across the region the chance to receive a slice of £10,000.
Grants from the charity pot are being offered to those who are vulnerable or in need of funding - for example, a poorly youngster who needs a fun-packed holiday, a gifted young person who needs a little extra help making the most of their talent or a family which requires equipment to look after a disabled child.
Star readers are asked to nominate potential recipients across South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire, and 12 of the most deserving will be chosen and presented with their cheques during the two weeks after Christmas.
Last year children were nominated for a variety of reasons and given a wide range of gifts.
Brothers Chandon and Curvel Ellis, aged nine and six, lost their mother Fiona to stomach cancer exactly a month before Christmas Day, and were presented with tickets for the Lyceum Theatre pantomime as a treat after a tough year.
Meanwhile three-year-old cerebral palsy sufferer Layton Holmes, of Norfolk Park, enjoyed a trip to a theme park, while disabled six-year-old Kira Yates, of Doncaster, was given a pair of specially-made £300 shoes she can walk in easily.
Help A Child Have A Chance was set up by the family of the late Hallam FM DJ Dave Kilner, who died just over three years ago.
Dave raised thousands of pounds for sick and disadvantaged children by organising countless charity events, and the good cause was set up to continue his legacy.
Shirley Kilner said the charity has had a ‘busy year’ distributing gifts and holding events.
“Last year it worked really well and it’s great to get involved again,” she said.
“The money isn’t doing any good sitting in our bank account, so it’s a good way of giving some money away and raising awareness of the charity.
“You don’t realise some of the hardships some families and children have, so when you give things away it’s quite nice. It’s lovely to see the reaction.”
The charity is open to suggestions as to who the money should be presented to, and the amounts given can be varied between the recipients.
Shirley, 53, runs the charity from her home in Whirlow along with daughters Rebecca, 26, Nicola, 23, and trustees Eamonn Hunt and Martina Bradshaw, both friends of Dave.
The funding can be for individuals aged up to 18, or groups, carers and educators who work with young people of the same age.
Each of the recipients will be chosen by a committee made up of representatives from the charity and The Star.
n Nominations can be made by emailing 12daysofchristmas@helpachildhaveachance.co.uk, or by post to 12 Days of Christmas, Help A Child Have A Chance, 2 Woburn Place, Sheffield, S11 9QS.
Include as much information as possible as to why the nominee is being chosen, along with name, address and contact details. The closing date is Monday, December 10.
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