The Cash For Kids Mission Christmas appeal raised £15.5 million (Up 17% year on year) which supported 362,694 children across the UK (Up 8% year on year).

The charity appeal backed by football star Rio Ferdinand and the team at his Rosso restaurant, who donated half a million pounds worth of toys, has raised a record-breaking £15,5 million –  smashing last year’s total of £13 million by almost £2.5 million pounds.

The largest Christmas toy appeal in the UK, Cash for Kids Mission Christmas asks people to donate or buy an extra gift to help children living in poverty in the UK and was launched in 2012.

With nearly 1 in 3 children across the UK living in poverty this December, for many families Christmas was simply a luxury they couldn’t afford.

Cash for Kids Managing Director Sally Aitchison MBE said, “Rio’s contribution made a huge difference to Mission Christmas along with each and every person who supported it meaning we were able to brighten up the lives of over 363, 000 children this Christmas. What a way to end the year”.

Mission Christmas is proudly supported by Foresters Financial, the international financial services provider and thousands of volunteers who assist with the sorting and distribution of gifts.

Find out how you can help to make a difference via special campaigns all year long by visiting www.cashforkids.uk.com and keep an eye out for next year’s Mission Christmas Campaign.

About Bauer Media:

Bauer Media UK reaches over 22 million UK consumers through a portfolio of world-class, multi-platform media and entertainment brands including heat, Kiss, Grazia, Empire, Magic and Absolute Radio. It creates and curates entertaining media content that audiences love whenever, wherever and however they want through a multi-channel strategy and a focus on product excellence and audience insight.  The result is an exciting array of influential brands, content and talent which provide compelling and engaging advertising opportunities with valuable audiences for UK commercial partners.  Bauer Media UK is part of the Bauer Media Group, one of the world’s largest privately owned media businesses with media assets all over the globe.

About Cash for Kids:

Cash for Kids is the cause related marketing arm for the Bauer Media’s network of local radio stations. In 2015 Cash for Kids raised £18.2 Million and supported over 515,000 sick and underprivileged children in local communities across the UK. Every penny raised stays in the community within which it was raised.

Bauer Radio’s Cash for Kids Charity (England) 1122062 Registered Charity (Scotland ): sco41421

For Further Press Information, please contact:

Cat Martin – Bauer Media Communications Director (Radio)

T: 0207 432 3317 

Jonny Silver – Bauer Media Communications Manager (Radio)

T: 0207 432 3417