Richard Preston, Associate Editor of The Daily Telegraph, presented the three charities – Chicks, Cure International UK and The Not Forgotten Association – with their cheques, at an event held at The Ritz London on Thursday, 6th March.
A huge boost to the appeal came when Telegraph staff and celebrated columnists including Boris Johnson, Telegraph cartoonist Matt Pritchett and Pippa Middleton took to the phones in December to take donation calls from readers. The phone-in day raised over £103,000 and 1,144 calls were received.
Elanor Hoskin, Chief Executive, CHICKS, said: “It has been a privilege to be part of The Telegraph Christmas Charity Appeal and we have been amazed and humbled by the incredible generosity of Telegraph readers across the country.
“On behalf of the entire CHICKS team and more importantly, the children who will benefit, I’d like to thank both The Telegraph and their readers for their incredible support which will allow us to give many more disadvantaged children a reason to smile in 2014.”
Hélène Frost, Executive Director, Cure International UK, said: “CURE would like to thank The Telegraph readers for their very generous support, the Christmas Appeal has far exceeded our expectations.
“Many of the children that we see at the ten CURE Children's Hospitals in resource-poor countries suffer unnecessarily with a disability such as a crooked spine, bow legs, clubfeet or hydrocephalus. Often these conditions can be corrected or cured with just one operation.
“Thanks to the fantastic support of The Telegraph readers, CURE is able to transform the lives of thousands more children through life-changing and life-saving surgery. These children will now be able to go to school and lead a full and productive life.
“It is a gift that will continue to pay dividends the rest of that child’s life.”
Colonel Piers Storie-Pugh OBE TD DL, Chief Executive, The Not Forgotten Association, said: “I think it is fair to say that nothing, in the 94 years since Marta Cunningham had a dream, has so propelled The Not Forgotten Association into public awareness as The Telegraph Christmas Appeal which ran from November 2013 to the end of January 2014. Marta Cunningham, in 1920, envisaged a tri-service charity that would provide entertainment, recreation and leisure to the serving and ex-service wounded and those with disabilities.
“This appeal, by raising the profile, has alerted those who are able to make a difference; and perhaps more importantly, has brought a message to those who are in need, of all ages and from all services and campaigns, of The Not Forgotten Association’s unique offering.
“The Trustees and Staff are hugely grateful to The Telegraph for choosing the Not Forgotten Association as one of its benefitting charities.”
The Telegraph would like to thank all those who generously donated to this year’s Christmas Charity Appeal.
