WE'VE done it.... generous Derby Telegraph readers have raised £30,000 in just six weeks to help send 450 disadvantaged children on holiday.
Money poured into our Give Us a Break appeal to buy a new minibus to take youngsters to the Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre in Skegness.
And the first group of children were waved off on their holiday in the new bus this week – after it was hastily bought and painted with the charity's logo.
The charity's chairman Bill Tomlinson said: "It's has been an amazing effort by everyone involved in this campaign.
"The support of the Derby Telegraph has been invaluable and has reached right out into the heart of the community – and, boy, did they respond. We can't thank everyone enough."
Our campaign was launched on April 22 and within two weeks the pot had reached £5,000 thanks to individual donations and team fund-raising efforts.By last week the total stood almost £23,000, so the trustees put in the order for the new minibus and crossed their fingers that they could hit the target in time for the summer holiday season.
Then another anonymous benefactor stepped in to make up the shortfall.
This man was present this week when the first group of children set off on their five-day break in the new bus.
There was not a cloud in the sky as the excited children set off. They also waved off by the Mayor of Derby, Councillor Fareed Hussain, and members of the charity's trust.
The benefactor, from Yorkshire, said: "I've supported the holiday centre for several years now, so it was easy for me to decide to give the money to this part of its work.
"Without the minibus, the children can't get to their holiday breaks, which are fantastic for them. It's a marvellous place and I like to give money to a cause where it can have a direct difference."
The children's holiday centre has been providing breaks for children aged eight to 14, from Derbyshire, since 1891 and it relies solely on public donations to exist.
The centre costs £17,000 a month to run and so having to replace their ageing minibus was an additional financial burden on an already stretched budget.
The minibus was provided by Evans Halshaw, in Leicester, and, through the company's community fund, it was able to supply it at a reduced rate.
David Kirk, from the company, said: "We wanted to give the best price we could and my general manager was very pleased to help.
"This minibus is more comfortable and bigger than the previous one, so the children will be able to travel in style from now on."
The children also voted the minibus a big success. Chloe Bennett, 11, who had been on one of the breaks a couple of years ago, said: "It's a much better minibus and really nice.
"I can't wait to travel in it. Thank you to everyone for helping to provide it for us."
Parents seeing their children off on their break were also impressed with the vehicle. Amber Williamson, of Derby, was waving off her daughter ,Saffy, aged eight.
She said: "It's fantastic that people have dug deep to help raise this money.
"I'm sure everyone linked to the centre is very grateful. I think Saffy is probably too nervous about the trip to think about the minibus because it's her first time away from home and I'm going to miss her."
Fellow parent Samantha Richardson, also of Derby, was waving goodbye to daughter Alissa, also eight.
She said: "I'm proud she was put forward for a break and she's been so excited about going.
"Travelling on a new minibus, along with the other children, has made it a really special occasion."
Many people sent cheques as donations towards the minibus, while other money has come from organisations such as Derby Mercia Rotary Club and the management at engineering company Accrofab in Spondon.
One of the quirkiest donations was from the owners of the new Cosmo restaurant in London Road, Derby.
They have opened in the former Zanzibar premises and auctioned the bronze statue from the front of the building online, raising more than £400 for the appeal in the process.
Several people and groups have also come forward to say they have arranged events in the near future, including bike rides and concerts, for the minibus appeal. Their money will now be able to go towards the running costs of the centre and providing the holidays from Easter to October.
Derby Telegraph editor Neil White said he thought the public response to the appeal was "amazing".
He said: "We know that people in Derby have good and kind hearts.
"It is when you see the response to something like this you see that generosity in action."
See tomorrow's Derby Telegraph for more about how the money was raised and what you can do in the future to help the centre.
