MILES of Smiles have been blown away with the masses of support they have received during the recession.

Although fund raising has dropped off and the effects of the credit crunch have been felt the charity is still thankful for the backing they have had.

Miles for Smiles has been helping care for sick and disabled children since it launched in 1993 and desperately needs more volunteers.

An appeal is being given for people’s time for a range of things from caring to weekly shopping and even landscaping at the charity’s two centres, Footprints and Redwalls.

Donations in kind are also be called for by way of organising fund raising events or sponsoring activites and never was so true the statement 'every little helps.’

In their biggest event so far this year £1,000 was raised at the Easter Egg hunt extravaganza.

Numerous local businesses and organisations including Slimming World, Specsavers and Abode hotel all donated genoursly to put smiles on the faces of children.

The money will go towards providing days out for kids, creating a covered play area and the general running of the charity.

Fund raising manager Liz Baxter said: “The more people who can support us the better.

“With people having to rein in their expenses we have been feeling the affects of the credit crunch.

“Any help is always greatly needed and deeply appreciated. This is such an important charity which makes such a difference to young lives and we want to be able to keep our support going.

“We are always suprised by the wide ranging businesses that do want to help and we would always encourage more to do the same.

“Being soley reliant on fund raisers we are always thankful to people’s generosity and the more money we get the more we can help those who really need us.”

For more information on how to help, visit www.kentishgazette.co.uk