Bourne fundraiser Gareth Ramsden asks donors to buy extra Christmas present for Cash For Kids charity

A fundraiser is hoping to get more than 300 presents to give to children this Christmas.

Gareth Ramsden, who lives in Bourne, is making it his mission to provide a gift for young people up to the age of 18 to open on Christmas Day.

Cash For Kids is a nationwide charity that supports children and young people affected by poverty, abuse, neglect, life-limiting illness and those who have additional needs.

Gareth, who works in marketing, said “I got involved in 2021 as I don’t feel like any kid should go without Christmas and I reflected on how lucky I was in my childhood.

“It is targeted to those who are living below the breadline and it is a thing I really want to do.”

Gareth, who used to play rugby for Spalding and now plays for Stamford Town, has already had a donation of £440 from events that have taken place and a donor has said they will match this amount – so he is already £800 ahead.

In a previous year the fundraiser supplied 240 presents and wants to "go bigger and better this year.”

He added: “This will enable me to buy gifts from shops and I aim to provide more than 300 presents.”

Donations of unwrapped gifts – such as puzzles, jigsaws, dolls, footballs, remote controlled toys, toiletries or make-up – can be dropped off at Springfields Outlet Shopping and Leisure in Spalding.

Gareth is able to arrange donations and collections and can be contacted via his Facebook page by searching Gareth Ramsden (Bourne, Lincs).