Your generosity has been incredible – but now is the last chance to donate to our charity appeal
Your generosity has been incredible – but now is the last chance to donate to our charity appeal
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The 2024 Christmas Charity Appeal is entering its final hours, but there’s still time to help those most in need. Copy link. twitter. facebook. whatsapp. Launching 90 days ago, the time has almost come for the Telegraph Christmas Charity Appeal 2024 to collect its final donation. The appeal will close on Friday January 31, but there’s still time to join other generous readers in making a donation which will change lives.
The appeal is an annual dose of joy for all of us at the Telegraph, a chance to stop and share positive stories of hope, warmth and light in the darkest months. This year has been no different. With our four partner charities – Teenage Cancer Trust, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Army Benevolent Fund and Humanity & Inclusion – we’ve had the honour of shining a light on some of the best of humanity.
That has been met in kind with the generosity of readers who, in spite of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and looming nationwide belt-tightening brought on by the Chancellor’s latest budget, have reached into their pockets to lend their money to some of the most vulnerable members of society. Before the launch of the appeal, Telegraph staff and readers reeled from the unexpected loss of our beloved colleague, David Knowles. In the weeks before his death, David, a staunch supporter of Ukraine, via the award-winning podcast had nominated Humanity & Inclusion for this year’s appeal and we were pleased to be able to support them in his honour. The global charity works alongside disabled and vulnerable people in 60 countries affected by poverty, conflict and disaster, providing emergency rehabilitation care, mental health support and community assistance in Ukraine, among other places.
2024 marked the 80th anniversary of the creation of the Armed Forces official charity, Army Benevolent Fund, so it was our pleasure to partner with them to showcase the huge breadth of the charity’s work. From providing grants to rehabilitating veterans who’ve faced life-changing injuries on the front line, to supporting army families after heartbreaking loss, to funding care homes to older veterans.
We know that dementia is a disease which affects our readers and their families personally, so we’ve all been interested in the work of Alzheimer’s Research UK. The full-service charity does everything from offering support to people experiencing the disease and their families, highlighting preventative measures, and helping fund research for a cure. The charity’s corporate partner, Chaucer, generously agreed to match funds raised by Telegraph readers up to £25,000, meaning any donations were given a major boost.
Finally, it has been a privilege to work with the Teenage Cancer Trust. Founded in 1990, the charity has transformed the experience of cancer care for young people ever since, with dedicated wards, specially trained nursing staff, and support for young cancer patients even after they leave hospital. Cancer is a terrible disease at any time, but when it blights young people in the prime of their lives the lifelong impact can be devastating. Thanks to Teenage Cancer Trust, some of those effects can be mitigated.
Along the way it has been an unrelenting joy to hear from readers who’ve expressed their support and admiration for the bravery and hard work of the charities’ staff, patrons, and those who’ve been supported. Beyond the hundreds of comments we’ve received on articles online, it’s been heartening to meet visitors in person at our annual Christmas carol concert at St Bride’s Church in London, and to hear from those further afield at the charity phone-in day where lucky readers had the chance to speak to Telegraph favourites including editor Chris Evans, and columnists such as Celia Walden and Allison Pearson.
With the appeal closing on Friday January 31, now is your last chance to donate before we announce the final total next week. In case you need a reminder of the brilliant work our charity partners do, we’ve collected some of our favourite stories from across this year’s appeal below. Booby-trapped teddy bears: Ukraine’s bunker school teaching children new threats: Host Francis Dearnley sees the reality of the war up close as he attends a class designed to educate and protect Ukrainian children from the terrible dangers they now face since the country’s invasion by Russia.
The heroes getting life-giving supplies to the Ukrainian front line: With food, water, and medical supplies often cut off, citizens trapped and families unable to escape, it takes the bravery of the small team of Atlas Logistique to get help to those in need. The Telegraph’s Liz Cookman meets the heroes of the team who coordinate the efforts to make sure life-saving supplies reach the people in the direst need.
‘It’s a curse that doesn’t go away’: The Bosnian refugee leading the fight against landmines: As a child, Alma Taslidžan experienced war first-hand, losing everything when her native Bosnia declared its independence from Yugoslavia and battle broke out on the streets she grew up on. Now 41, Alma is a patron of Humanity & Inclusion, campaigning against landmines, cluster munitions and the heavy bombing of towns and cities. She tells Telegraph features writer Rosa Silverman exactly what motivates her crusade.