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Henry Allingham visits The Argus and is pictured with group editor Michael Beard (left) and staff

The Argus Appeal is about to complete its 50th year helping good causes across Sussex. Indications show our supporters have been as generous as ever. Naomi Loomes reports.

The Argus's A-team is keeping an eye out every day for worthy causes that might go unnoticed.

Last year the appeal gave more than £220,000 to a range of facilities and services, from youth clubs to hospices and from sports centres to holidays for families with little time left together.

Everyone who is part of the appeal hopes 2007, its half-century anniversary, will beat what has gone before.

This year the appeal has pledged a lifetime donation to Eastbourne's Henry Allingham, who at 111 is the oldest man in Europe.

The First World War veteran, who now lives in St Dunstan's care home in Ovingdean, Brighton, will be supported by The Argus Appeal for the rest of his life to ensure it's long and happy.

Last month two recycling collectors, Brian Salvage and Pete Allan, both from Coldean, Brighton, contacted The Argus Appeal to ask if money could be raised to buy a hamper for disabled 87-year-old Florence Fuggle, who sits in the window of her home in Beatty Avenue, Coldean, and waves at them every time they walk past. Unable to leave her house without the help of a carer, Florence said: "They always ask if t h e y can get me any shopping or anything and I always say no.

"Then one day they knocked on the door and said they had a present for me. When I opened the door they were wearing Santa hats and had a hamper.

"It contains enough groceries to last me a month, which is fantastic.

I'm incredibly grateful."

The Sussex Autistic Society received £4,000 from the appeal.

Chief executive Lisa Perks said: "We were delighted when we got the extra funds from The Argus.

"We used the money to revamp our family centre and launch a new and improved service in September.

"We are now able to rent The Laurels in Rustington twice a month and employ more staff, we now have six support workers. It also helped us buy a lot of specialist equipment for children with autism.

"Now up to 45 children between the ages of five and 13 can be dropped off for the day with their siblings. They can do cooking, indoor sports, drama, music, arts and crafts. It helps them develop their relationship with brothers and sisters as well as improve their more general social skills.

"The money this year has meant a lot to the society and it was really nice to round it all off by saving some money for a Christmas party last Saturday."

Another recipient was the philan thropic furniture deliverer Lewes Furniture Now.

The organisation collects donated furniture and stores it in its warehouse in Phoenix Works industrial estate in North Street, Lewes, before delivering it free to disadvantaged people.

Director Rik Child said: "Eightyfive per cent of our customers are unemployed, on low income, pensioners or disabled. They struggle to find affordable furniture and struggle to get it to their homes.

"If they make a selection from the warehouse we deliver it in the Furniture Now van. It does more than 10,000 miles every year.

"The Argus Appeal donated £4,805 to do all the repairs on the van, which has done a total of 65,000 miles, to keep it running for at least another year.

"We've repainted the van so people know it's the appeal that's keeping it on the road.

"We're really grateful because two years ago we opened a second warehouse to do the same thing in Eastbourne.

"People are crying out for the service so the van is under a lot of pressure."

The appeal also donated £2,800 to Eastbourne's Crime Reduction Initiatives which help children who have experienced domestic violence. The money was used to kit out a play therapy room.

Ginny Everson, senior children's therapeutic worker, said: "The room is full of art equipment, dressing- up clothes, dolls houses and every kind of toy that can help them remember what it is to feel safe and have fun.

"We also give them therapy to help them raise their self esteem and understand what has happened to them."

Though the appeal is an all-year affair these days, it was originally founded in 1957 as a Christmas appeal. It continues to make Christmas special by way of the Santa bus.

The double decker, covered in fairy lights and containing everyone's favourite bearded old man, has been rolling round Sussex for the past few weeks raising money for the Martlets Hospice in Hove.

The hospice is under immense pressure working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year round, to enhance the quality of life and ease the distress of patients suffering from cancer and other serious conditions.

Among the generous fundraisers who responded to the A-team call were a group of sociable gardeners including Andrew Doig and Barbara Aston, who opened up their spectacular gardens to members of the public and raised £3,000.

The money went to the Sussex Beacon charity which helps care for people with HIV and AIDS.

Stefano Addis, 32, head chef at Italian restaurant Donatello's in Market Street, Brighton, went to New York in November to run the New York marathon for The Argus Appeal.

He trained every day of the summer in preparation for the challenge. He ran it effortlessly and raised £6,000.

Mr Addis said: "I was never really a runner. I only started a year ago but it worked well with my job as a chef because it meant I could escape the heat of the kitchen.

"I wanted it to go to the Argus Appeal because I know all the money is used locally and I've lived in Brighton for my whole life so it's close to my heart."

The Argus Appeal chairman Martyn Willis said: "There are still an enormous number of people in need. Families struggle with so many different situations.

"The funds are raised in Sussex and stay in Sussex. This year could be the highest amount raised in the appeal's history.

"All the administration costs are covered by The Argus so literally every penny given goes to the cause."

1:02pm Wednesday 19th December 2007

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