Youngsters at Fulwell Grange Kindergarten on Newcastle Road, made everything from crispy cakes to biscuits for their parents to buy to raise money for cash-strapped Donna Claire.

The Seaburn charity – a holiday home for the severely disabled – is set to close as soon as early December unless vital funds can be raised.

Nursery nurse Emma Carr said: "We read about the cause in the Echo and we just thought we would try to help them."

Donna Claire has so far raised more than £56,000 towards its £100,000 target, but time is running out.

Also helping the cause is Christine Stephenson, whose brother Lee goes for holidays at the lifeline home, giving mum Ann Minns much-needed respite.

Lee, 38, suffers from uncontrolled epilepsy and can have a seizure at any moment.

Christine, 35, a medical secretary, of Bamburgh Avenue, South Shields, has raised more than £2,000 so far from various fund-raising activities.

After a successful fund-raising event at Whitburn and Marsden Social Club last week, she took part in bag packs at Morrisons in Seaburn – aided by South Shields air cadets and prefects from Whitburn School.

Christine said: "I am up to £2,300, and that's before the charity night.

"It's looking good for Donna Claire but we don't want to count our chickens."

The lifeline charity offers a holiday for severely disabled people and much-needed respite for their carers.

If you would like to help, make a donation to Donna Claire direct by calling 529 3171, dropping into the Donna Claire charity shop at 111 Sea Road, Fulwell, or writing to the Donna Claire Venture, 6 Seaburn Terrace, Sunderland SR6 8BZ.

Organising a fund-raising event? Contact the Echo newsdesk on 501 7208.