Christmas charity appeal December 2010

Santander has joined forces with ITV1's flagship daytime show This Morning for this year's Christmas appeal to help raise money for CLIC Sargent, the children's cancer charity.

This Morning and Santander are working together with viewers and celebrities for the fifth year running to raise awareness and funds to aid the chosen charity.  Last year's appeal raised £245,857 for Alzheimer's Society.

Since this year's appeal began on 6 December more than £111,400 has been raised by people donating at Santander branches, online and by telephone.

To support this year's campaign to raise money for children with cancer, Santander is providing a service for people to donate to the appeal at any one of its 1,300 branches across the UK.

This Morning host, Phillip Schofield said: "We are delighted CLIC Sargent has been chosen as This Morning's Christmas Appeal.  Childhood cancer is a devastating disease that touches many people's lives."

Co-host Holly Willoughby added: "CLIC Sargent provides all round support to families in hospitals and at home through the difficult times.  Every year our viewers amaze us with their generosity and we are sure this year will be no exception."

Santander is helping start the appeal with a donation of £15,000.  Gillian Almond, Santander's head of current accounts, said: "British people are great charity supporters and raise phenomenal amounts of money for all sorts of incredibly important causes.  People can show their support for CLIC Sargent by donating over the counter at any one of our 1,300 branches across the country."

Cancer is the largest cause of death from disease in children in the UK.  Approximately 1,700 children aged up to 15 years and 2,300 young people aged 16 to 24 are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK. CLIC Sargent provides clinical, practical and emotional support but at a cost of about £3,750 for the charity to support each young person through cancer, funding is evidently vital. 

Lorraine Clifton, Chief Executive at CLIC Sargent, said: "CLIC Sargent is delighted to have been selected as This Morning's Christmas Appeal charity. Today, 10 children and young people across the UK will be diagnosed with cancer.  CLIC Sargent wants to be there for every one of them, to provide care for them in hospital and to help the whole family cope with the practical and emotional impact of cancer and treatment. Lack of funds means that currently we can only help two out of three children and young people with cancer, so every donation made by This Morning's viewers will help us to be there for more families, through treatment and beyond."

This Morning is on weekdays, 10.30am - 12.30pm, Saturdays 12.10pm and Sundays 12.00pm on ITV1. The Christmas Appeal runs from Monday 6 December until Thursday 23 December.

Donations can be made from 6 December at any one of Santander's 1,300 branches or online or over the phone. Visit itv.com/thismorning for further information.