Charity champ donates hundreds of gifts to Sunderland Echo Toy Appeal

Dedicated Julie Reay is helping to reach out to children in need this Christmas.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Dec 2016, 08:00 BST
Updated 14th Dec 2016, 12:37 BST
Gavin Foster (3rd left) Managing Editor Sunderland Echo, with l-r Rob Fraser of Sainsbury's, Silksworth Lane, fundraiser Julie Reay (2nd left) and Helen Brown of Sainsbury's with gifts for the Toy Appeal.Gavin Foster (3rd left) Managing Editor Sunderland Echo, with l-r Rob Fraser of Sainsbury's, Silksworth Lane, fundraiser Julie Reay (2nd left) and Helen Brown of Sainsbury's with gifts for the Toy Appeal.
Gavin Foster (3rd left) Managing Editor Sunderland Echo, with l-r Rob Fraser of Sainsbury's, Silksworth Lane, fundraiser Julie Reay (2nd left) and Helen Brown of Sainsbury's with gifts for the Toy Appeal.

The charity champion hit the aisles in Sainsbury’s Silksworth to buy hundreds of gifts for our annual Toy Appeal. Julie, from Barnes, raised £900 to buy the gifts through a fundraising night at the Jolly Potter pub in South Hylton.

The mum has thrown her weight behind our appeal for a number of years after her son, Peter, died in a tragic rope swing accident when he was just 13.

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That year, in 2002, his Christmas presents lay unopened and the following year she made the heart-breaking decision to donate them to the Echo appeal.

Julie said: “I just want to send my heartfelt thanks again to all who helped making Peter’s fundraising night a great success. We raised a fantastic £680 on the night and another £230 through online auction

“I would like to say a massive thank you to Anne, Rob, all the staff and generous customers of the Jolly Potter’s. Their continued support to Peter’s fund is amazing. Thanks to all who donated raffle prizes. Without these we couldn’t raise such a fantastic total and all your support is so much appreciated.”

Echo managing editor Gavin Foster said: “Thanks once again to Julie for her continued efforts with our Toy Appeal. Hopefully her donations will help towards making this a bumper year for helping needy children on Wearside.”

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Gifts donated to our appeal will be delivered to hospitals, women’s refuges and special needs units around Wearside.

Anyone wishing to make a gift donation can do so at collections points by December 19. These are at: Morrisons, Seaburn, Morrisons, Doxford Park, Hays Travel, Santander, Virgin Money Fawcett Street, Virgin Money The Bridges, Tesco The Bridges, Wilkinsons and Hope 4 Kidz, Pennywell.