by Gerry Warren

Dave Lee’s Happy Holidays is expected to be wound up next year following the popular comic’s death in January.

Charity bosses have admitted that without the larger-than-life panto star as its figurehead, they are preparing to close it down.

The charity has raised millions to send disadvantaged children on holiday since it was formed in 1994.

Dave’s death from pancreatic cancer, aged 64, prompted a spike in donations, including £3,500 from a collection at his memorial service and £20,000 from a tribute show at the Marlowe Theatre in May.

It is hoped the charity will mark its end with one last big treat for a group of children.

Chairman Kevin Aylward said: “Dave was obviously the face of the charity but after he died we knew there would come a time when we would have to consider closing it, but we will sit down with his family and talk about.”

The charity has raised more than £2 million to provide hundreds of holidays and outings for sick, disabled and underprivileged children and their families from Kent.

It has three mobile homes at Camber Sands, where families enjoy breaks. They are fully-booked for 2012 but the charity is not accepting any more applications for 2013.

Mr Aylward said: “With the site fees, they cost thousands to operate but are now likely to be sold.

“There is still some fundraising going on. Marks and Spencer in Canterbury is collecting for us and Waitrose has raised more than £5,000 for the charity.

“We are supporting a panto performance at the Marlowe for disadvantaged children and their families on January 5.

"We shall just have to see how much money we have left in the kitty but one idea is that we take a large group of children on a trip to Disneyland in Paris.

“It would be a fitting way to wind it up and what Dave would have wanted.”