By Sue Crawford

Last updated at 13:43, Monday, 26 November 2012

Gym owner Lee Butterworth is putting his weight behind our campaign to make sure there is plenty of joy for children this Christmas.

Lee Butterworth

Lee, 35, is supporting the News & Star Christmas Toy Appeal because he wants to help ensure every child has a present to open on Christmas morning.

The dad of 13-year-old daughter Olivia, knows only too well how important it is for children to have presents to unwrap.

Lee, who runs Xtreme Fitness at Lillyhall, said he read about the News & Star appeal and felt he could do something to help.

He said: “The thought of children having nothing at Christmas is pretty dismal. I couldn’t sit back and do nothing.

“I know that times are hard for many families. If we all do a little bit to help it will make Christmas much happier particularly for children.”

Lee is putting appeal posters in his gym and will ask each of his 350 members to bring a toy in for the collection.

The aim of the News & Star appeal is to ensure that no child, no matter what his or her circumstances, will be without presents to unwrap on Christmas morning.

Staff at Cumbrian Newspapers are busy collecting donated new gifts from all our drop-off points, ready for delivery to Santa’scentral grotto in December.

All we ask is that you buy an extra gift – more if you can – for a child aged between infancy and 18 – and drop it off, unwrapped, at a collection point where you see our distinctive poster.

The News & Star Toy Appeal is running in conjunction with Cash For Kids Mission Christmas. Along with the folks at CFM, we will ensure all gifts are wrapped and distrib-uted to children who may not otherwise enjoy the magical time they deserve.

A full list of drop-off points can be found on our Christmas Toy Appeal web page.

First published at 13:40, Monday, 26 November 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk