Do your bit in reuniting loved ones this Christmas (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Do your bit in reuniting loved ones this Christmas

9:10am Monday 1st December 2008 in Missing People News By Ian Mason

With less than one month until Christmas, an East Sheen charity and the Richmond and Twickenham Times are together urging the borough to show some seasonal goodwill.

This year, the paper has teamed up with Missing People and is appealing to readers and residents to donate what they can and raise £15,000 to help those who have gone missing, and support their loved ones.

Head of marketing, Ross Miller, said: “So far the charity has received a few generous donations from the people of Richmond and Twickenham, including an individual donation of £200 – which could fund the entire charity for half an hour this Christmas.

“However, we desperately need more people to donate to achieve our total of £15,000. Your donation, small or large, really will go a long way.

“This is an opportunity for the community to show its pride in the achievements of the charity – and to play a part in its future success.”

This fresh call for donations comes three days after Missing People launched the first free-to-text (SMS) service for missing and runaway children in the UK.

The charity’s head of services, Jo Youle, said: “Increasing the ways missing children can contact us could save lives.

“This improved service means that young people can now contact us in whichever way they feel most confident, whenever they want.”

A payment of £5 would pay for 30 children to text the new service. Alternatively, £15 would enable the charity to support a family for one hour, and a £30 donation could produce missing posters for 12 children.

One young runaway staff hope will use the text service is Paige Chivers, from Blackpool, Lancashire. There has been no word from her since she disappeared in August 2007, when she was 15.

Her brother, Peter Houghton, said: “We are so worried, please get in touch and let us know you’re okay. It only takes one text. We just want to know that you are safe and well.”

• Click here to donate to the charity.