UK

TV's Lorraine launches Xmas box campaign

TV celebrity Lorraine Kelly rubbed shoulders with Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force personnel at the Tower of London today (Tuesday) to launch the annual Christmas Box campaign.

It is run by the charity uk4u Thanks! The campaign sees some 22,500 boxes full of festive cheer sent to servicemen and women right across the world who are working away from their families, and to those in hospital this Christmas.

To launch the boxes Lorraine fired a ceremonial gun belonging to the Honourable Artillery Company from Tower Wharf, the traditional site of all Royal Gun Salutes.

She said: “With so many of our Servicemen and women away from their families at Christmas, it’s important that we let them know they are in our thoughts. Donating to the charity, uk4u Thanks! is a way for us all to say Happy Christmas to our Armed Forces!”

Defence Minister Nick Harvey said: “Christmas can be a difficult time for our troops on operations when separation from their families is felt most acutely.

“Uk4u allows the public to demonstrate their support for our troops at Christmas time without putting pressure on the supply chain and forces mail system. With uk4u’s help, our troops on operations can celebrate Christmas knowing that all of us back home are thinking of them.”

People wishing to donate to the Christmas Box campaign can do so at www.uk4u.org or by sending a cheque payable to "uk4u Thanks!” to uk4u Thanks!, The Old Granary, East Street, West Chiltington, West Sussex RH20 2JY.

FACTS

- uk4u Thanks! works with the Armed Forces to send the boxes, containing some 20 items, out to locations such as Afghanistan, the Falklands, and ships and submarines across the world in time for Christmas Day.

- They do not use the British Forces Post Office system, so do not delay parcels from families and friends getting through.

- Along with donations from the public, the charity is supported by a number of defence companies including BAE Systems, Sodexo, Finmeccanica, the Nuffield Trust for the Forces of the Crown and Marks and Spencer.