Cash for Kids Mission Christmas: Thousands of Scots kids still need your help

THE clock is ticking on the drive to make this a year of magic for Scotland’s children.

The Sunday Post has joined forces with Cash For Kids Mission Christmas to try to help bring festive joy.

And now we’re entering the final straight.

Cash For Kids across Scotland has received applications from 72,901 who need support at this time of year.

All would otherwise wake up to nothing on Christmas morning.

So far Cash For Kids has been able to fund Christmas presents for 55,226 children thanks to the generosity of the Scottish people, radio listeners and our wonderful readers.

But there are only a few more days to help ensure the remaining 17,675 children don’t go without this year.

Please help us to ensure we can make Christmas special for these children. Every child deserves a little magic at least once a year.

It’s too late to buy a gift, but you can still help us by making a cash donation online at any of the local Bauer radio station’s websites below – or donate by text.

Cash For Kids managing director Sally Aitchison MBE said: “The people of Scotland are so selfless and passionate about looking after their own.

“We are always overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity. Sadly, the need continues to increase and we need people’s support.

“I would like to thank everyone who has donated so far and encourage everyone else to get involved to help someone else at this time of year.”

When it comes to going the extra mile, Kyle Cranston from Edinburgh takes some beating.

It started with a few presents in the hall. Then they filled the rest of the house.

Finally, there were so many – a staggering 330 this year – that a commercial storage company was needed to find room for them all.

And young Kyle, 15, started it all so that others’ homes had presents under their Christmas trees.

He is one of Cash For Kids’ most dedicated fundraisers.

And Mission Christmas becomes a mission-and-a-half every year.

“He ran a 5k when he was nine and because it was in December he wanted to know about a fitting charity he could do it for,” said mum Claire, 33.

“When he heard about Cash For Kids he knew that was the one.”

Only family and friends contributed that first year, but as word spread it grew and grew.

The storage facility came into play as a trickle of gifts turned into a flood.

When he undertook this year’s 5k at Inverleith Park, the 330 gifts included 50 from one impressed benefactor.

“They included everything from baby clothes to make-up for teenagers,” said Claire.

“And there were toys for all ages of kids in between, so there had been such a lot of thought.”

And Kyle says the motivation for his six years of massive fundraising is simple.

“I just thought that I’m going to have a great Christmas, so why can’t everyone have one?”