The charity When You Wish Upon A Star needs to raise almost £7000 to get poorly children on a flight to the winter wonderland on December 14.

The Evening Times reported on July 9 that a flight from Prestwick, which was due to be filled with Scots youngsters and their families, had been axed due to the recession.

The charity failed to raise the £80,000 needed to charter the special Monarch flight.

But organisers are determined to get the children to the winter wonderland and are now pleading for help to give the youngsters the chance to go on another planned trip from East Midlands Airport, near Nottingham.

They hope around 12 families from Scotland will be able to go.

Margaret Rowarth, Scotland Appeals manager, said: "For the children, the trip would give them the chance to forget about the pain and discomfort they endure on a daily basis.

"They will be able to enjoy a snow playground, ride on skidoos, snowmobiles or quad bikes, go skiing and sledging and have a husky ride, as well as a traditional sleigh ride with Rudolph and his reindeer friends, before meeting Santa."

Last year, the Evening Times joined a group of 40 youngsters, many of whom had cancer and were patients at Yorkhill Sick Hospital For Sick Children, Glasgow, along with their parents and brothers and sisters on the day-long visit to Lapland.

The kids had a fantastic time and parents later paid tribute to the charity for organising the event.

The highlight saw them receive a present from Santa Claus and Rudolph. The families then visited the special Christmas Post Office in the Arctic Circle, where all letters sent to Santa from around the world arrive.

Some of the children who went on the trip have since died.

A few years ago the cost of the trip to organisers was £60,000, but the price has escalated due to difference between the euro and the pound and also vastly increased fuel costs.

The trip also had to be cancelled in 2009 because of the credit crunch.

Since it started in 1990, the charity has granted thousands of wishes for poorly kids and their families, from meeting pop stars to visiting Disney World, or just buying them presents of books or toys.

If you can make a donation then contact Margaret or Lisa on 01357 529950 or send an e-mail to: margaret. rowarth@whenyouwish. org.uk

sarah.swain@ eveningtimes.co.uk

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