DONATIONS totalling more than £11,000 have now rolled into the East Anglian Daily Times' CLIC into Action appeal – just seven weeks after its launch.Dozens of businesses and individuals across East Anglia have been touched by the plight of children suffering from cancer and leukaemia in the region and have pledged their whole-hearted support.

DONATIONS totalling more than £11,000 have now rolled into the East Anglian Daily Times' CLIC into Action appeal – just seven weeks after its launch.

Dozens of businesses and individuals across East Anglia have been touched by the plight of children suffering from cancer and leukaemia in the region and have pledged their whole-hearted support.

A cheque for £187 has been donated to the appeal following a collection held at Easton Park Farmers Market thanks to Fiona Kerr, and Trevor Southgate managed to raise £130 after auctioning some railway trade union badges. Stowupland Parochial Church Council also donated £55 towards the fund.

The CLIC into Action appeal aims to generate £50,000 to continue funding a children's cancer nurse and a child play specialist in our region.

With your help we hope to be able to help children like little George Pennick, of Martlesham, who at just over a year old is fighting eye cancers that may leave him blind.

CLIC nurses and play specialists helped George and his family come to terms with his treatment and the uncertainty of living with cancer.

The appeal total now stands at £11,013.

Area fundraising manager Michelle Gray said: "It is with great pleasure that I express my sincere thanks to the EADT and everyone who has made the 'CLIC into Action' appeal such a huge success.

"To have raised over £11,000 in less than two months is a fantastic achievement and on behalf of everyone at CLIC and all the children and families who rely on our vital services may I say a massive thank you.

"However, I would urge businesses, schools, community groups and individuals to keep pledging their financial support, as the target of £50,000 is still quite a long way off."

In May, Mrs Gray, who lives in Thurston, near Bury St Edmunds, will take on the Peruvian Andes and climb steep terrain of up to 4,200m to raise money for the EADT's CLIC into Action appeal.

The Inca Trail will see her acclimatising to high altitude and camping on mountain passes in the shadow of the Inca ruins finishing at Machu Picchu on May 8.

Her sponsorship total already stands at £250, which was helped by a pledge of £100 from Sciclone Ltd, on behalf of Bury-based Marketing Interactive UK Ltd.

Among other individuals and businesses to donate funds towards the appeal is Kate Kelly of Simmons Dickinson in Bury who pledged £50 sponsorship to Mrs Gray for the Inca Trail Challenge in May.

Sarah Deans of Barclays Sales Financing also offered £25 sponsorship for the trail.

"Businesses could take me up on my offer to be a walking, talking advertisement for them, in return for £200 sponsorship in respect of my undertaking of the Inca Trail Challenge in May, or become an event sponsor," said Mrs Gray.

"Schools and community groups could organise events or sponsored activities. Members of the local community could make a donation, return their empty ink cartridges or old mobile phones for recycling or arrange to leave a gift to CLIC in their Will - the list is endless.

"CLIC is committed to up-holding the dignity of all children diagnosed with childhood cancer or leukaemia - your invaluable support is vital to ensure that work can continue. Thank you."

n To make a donation, call the CLIC into Action donation line on freephone 0800 138 3810 to donate by credit/debit card.

By cheque (made payable to CLIC into Action) and sent direct to either CLIC (East Anglia), 8 Wren Close, Thurston, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP31 3TQ.

Cheques/cash can be paid direct into any branch of Lloyds TSB, quoting: Account name: 'CLIC into Action', Sort code: 30-00-01, Account no: 02693685.

By credit card via the CLIC website, www.clic.uk.com/donfr.html (quoting ref: CIA).