We have had a good second week for our marathon challenge...the Christmas Toy Appeal in conjunction with Community Links, a care group at the very heart of local life.

We need to collect almost 15,000 toys to ensure that no child loses out at this special time of year.

And our charity football shirt auction has captured your imagination.

There is still seven days for West Ham fans to bid for a piece of history and help our appeal. Over 100 of you have bid so far. You can buy a shirt signed by the Irons winning FA Cup team of 1980. The shirt is authenticated and signed by all the Hammers team. Actor Ricky Grover donated the shirt and we are hoping to raise as much as possible through its sales. There was a reserved price of �50, which was beaten early on in the bidding.

As of ten minutes ago, the bidding stands at �350.

You can e-mail your bid to the Editor Colin Grainger. E-Mail to colin.grainger@newhamrecorder.co.uk

The bids can be made by e-mail only until 5pm on Wednesday November 30.

The bidder must agree to pick up the shirt from Kevin Jenkins at Community Links in Barking Road, Canning Town and pay by cash to the charity. Please include your address and phone number with your bid.

We are also greatful for the help from Newham’s Mayor Sir Robin Wales who dug deep and bought some toys for the campaign.

And news reaches us this week of a special event for being held on Saturday December 10. Its a Christmas Toy Run by caring bikers.

The British Motorcyle Federation Region 8 bikers will meet at the King’s Oak pub in High Beech while other bikers will meet up at North City Triumph dealers in Romford. They will then stop at various venues on the way collecting toys for needy young ones and then meet up at Community Links headquarters in Barking Road, Canning Town.

The fantastic event,which will see many bikers in fancy dress will include BMF riders, those from the Essex Chapter of the Harley Davidson group and the Virago Star Owners Club and other riders who have pledged to make a difference.

BMF spokesman John Pryke said: “Its something we all lookforward to and we want to help as many chldren as possible.”

In the first two weeks of our campaign we have now collected the equivalent of 1,500 toys, but we now have just another month to collect the other 13,500 gifts that are needed. We need you to step up and dig deep for our campaign. Please see it in your heart to add some special youngsters to your Christmas shopping list.

When you buy gifts for loved ones and friends, please add another – for a child. If you give a special person some money for their own gift, perhaps you could put aside some money for a needy child. We promise every pound donated will be turned into toys.

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The Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales has added his support to a toy appeal that will see youngsters most in need not missing out this Christmas.

Sir Robin has donated a collection of gifts to the Community Links and Newham Recorder Christmas Toy Appeal. The appeal this year hopes to help more almost 4,000 youngsters who most need it.

Said Sir Robin: “I am delighted to be able to support this very important appeal. I am sure it will make a lot of young people very happy. Every child matters, especially at Christmas, and I encourage individuals and businesses across the borough to try to do their bit for the appeal.”

The Mayor and new Deputy Lester Hudson welcomed a group of youngsters from Community Links’ Peabody playgroup, into the council’s Newham Dockside offices to collect the toys on behalf of the appeal. Smyths, the toy shop in Gallions Reach, Beckton, also contributed.

Newham Town Hall in Barking Road, East Ham, and the Old Town Hall in Broadway, Stratford, are acting as drop-off points during opening hours from Monday to Friday for people who may wish to donate new toys to the appeal.

Gifts can also be left at the council’s Local Service Centres in Kingsford Way, Beckton; Beckton Road, Canning Town; Green Street, Upton Park; The Grove, Stratford; Barking Road, East Ham; and Woodgrange Road, Forest Gate.

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Join the quiz event of the year on December 1. Our quiz night competition is a chance to raise money for the Community Links and Recorder Christmas Toy Appeal.

The quiz will be held from 7.30pm. Participants can arrive from 7pm at Links’ base in Barking Road, Canning Town. It always provide tension, drama and above all else, fun. The Recorder’s own team will be there.

Tables of eight cost just �75, which will enable one family of disadvantaged children to have a really special Christmas. To enter call (020) 7473 2270. Each table taken up equates to another family of children having a Christmas to remember this year.

n You can stage a sponsored event for the appeal to raise cash. Editor Colin Grainger will make his annual dip for charity, as he has done since 1976, swimming 50 lengths at Becontree Leisure Centre.

The sum will be matched by the Recorder’s parent company Archant.. If you want to sponsor Colin or send a donation, send it to Colin Grainger, Editor, Newham Recorder, Media House, 539, High Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 1UD.

Cheques should be made payable to Community Links please.

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Community Links are staging a Christmas lunch to raise funds for the appeal and buy new toys.

Places for the meal on December 15 have to be booked. A meal of soup, turkey main course, ham, roast spuds and sprouts and carrors, parsnips, followed by mince piesor custard and trifle and glass or wine costs �9, or �65 for a table of eight. Veggie options are available. The meals are served from noon to 1.30pm and then from 1.30pm to 3pm. Phone (020) 7473 9685 or (020) 7473 2270 or e-mail kevin.jenkins@community-links.org for details. If you want to stage an event or raise money for the appeal or collect toys, call (020) 7473 2270.

Links are also selling Christmas trees. Their social enterprise unit have launched the development and askbusinesses if they would consider getting their trees for their office premises from Links.

Delivery will be made on a day of people’s choice.” Contact(020) 7473 2270 for details.

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Community Links are staging a Christmas on the Farm event at Newham City Farm, Stansfeld Road, Beckton on December 17 and 18.

n From noon until 4pm, there is table space available for craft and seasonal products. Anyone interested, contact Kevin Jenkins at kevin.jenkins@community-links.org or call (020) 7473 2270.

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There is a network of drop-off points all over Newham where you can leave toys. These are at:

NEWHAM RECORDER: The reception desk, Media House, 539, High Road, Ilford, 9am to 5.30pm weekdays.

COMMUNITY LINKS: Main Centre, Barking Road, Canning Town, 9am to 6pm weekdays.

COMMUNITY LINKS CENTRAL PARK CENTRE: 2 Central Park Road, East Ham, during opening hours.

COMMUNITY LINKS ASTA CENTRE: Camel Road, Silvertown, 9am to 6pm weekdays.

COMMUNITY LINKS ROKEBY CENTRE: Rokeby Street, Stratford, 9am to 6pm weekdays.

NEWHAM CITY FARM, Stansfeld Road, Beckton, during opening hours.

ASDA SUPERSTORE: Tollgate Road, Beckton, during store opening hours.

THE LORD STANLEY PUB: St. Mary’s Road, Plaistow, during opening hours.

THEATRE ROYAL, STRATFORD: Gerry Raffles Square, during opening hours.

LORD LISTER HEALTH CENTRE: Woodgrange Road, Forest Gate, 9am to 5pm weekdays.

NEWHAM BOOKSHOP: Barking Road, Upton Park, 9.30am to 5pm, during opening hours.

ST MARK’S CHURCH AND CENTRE: Lorne Road, Forest Gate, during centre opening hours.

WEST HAM UNITED SUPPORTERS CLUB: Castle Street, Upton Park, 9am to 10pm any day.

ST BARTHOLOMEW’S CHURCH AND CENTRE: Barking Road/ St Bartholmew’s , East Ham, 9am to 5pm any day.

EAST HAM TOWN HALL: Barking Road, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

THE OLD TOWN HALL: Stratford Broadway, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

BECKTON LOCAL SERVICE CENTRE: Kingsford Way, during opening hours Monday to Saturday.

GREEN STREET LOCAL SERVICE CENTRE: Green Street, Upton Park, during opening hours.

STRATFORD LOCAL SERVICE CENTRE: The Grove, Stratford, during opening hours.

EAST HAM LOCAL SERVICE CENTRE: Barking Road, East Ham, during opening hours.

THE GATE LOCAL SERVICE CENTRE and LIBRARY: Woodgrange Road, Forest Gate, during opening hours.

PLAISTOW PARK COMMUNITY CENTRE: Queens Road West, Plaistow, during opening hours.

BARCHESTER, WESTGATE HOUSE NURSING HOME: Romford Road, Forest Gate, during opening hours.

n We can arrange for toys to be collected if you wish to make a donation but are housebound. Contact Kevin Jenkins, Paula Blake or reception at Community Links on (020) 7473 2270. Alternatively, call Pat Coughtrey, Kay Atwal, Melissa York, Luke Jacobs or Colin Grainger on the Recorder’s Toy Appeal Desk on (020) 8478 4444. You can also make a cash donation. We promise that every penny given will be spent on brand new toys for needy youngsters in our community. Please make any cheques payable to Community Links, not Archant or Newham Recorder.

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