Carlisle United are asking local businesses to support an appeal to help send a sick child and their family to Lapland this winter.

The Blues have teamed up with their long-standing charity partner Jigsaw Children's Hospice to launch the 'Make A Dream Come True' appeal.

They want to raise £9,000 to pay for a once-in-a-lifetime trip for a family of four to meet Santa, his elves and reindeer.

"I’ve done this before, when I was at Gretna, and it was just wonderful to be able to help to give a family and their child some very special and fond memories at a stage when they were going through a tough time,” said United's new director of football David Holdsworth, who is leading the appeal.

"It would be fantastic if we were able to do something similar here at Carlisle United.

"We’ll be asking local businesses to become part of what we think is an amazing project for a special cause, and we are also reaching out to the wider Carlisle United community.

"I’ve said from the first day I started work here that one of our main aims was to bring the club and the community closer together. Just imagine how proud we will all feel when we wave a family off on what will be the trip of a lifetime."

Holdsworth will make an informal presentation about the appeal at 12pm in Brunton Park's Legends Lounge before tomorrow's game and United say businesses and individuals are welcome to attend.

"I’ll be speaking to travel agents and working closely with Jigsaw to get full details about travel costs and requirements this week, and it would be fantastic if we could reach our funding target as quickly as possible," Holdsworth added.

"Doing this together as a Cumbrian community would make it extra special."

A JustGiving donation page has also been set up, at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/carlisle-united