A CHARITY which supports the families of sick children has been given a financial boost by the publishers of The Northern Echo.

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity has received a cheque for £1,625.

The grant was made by the Gannett Foundation, the charitable wing of the newspaper’s parent company.

The national charity provides practical and emotional support to families who have a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness. It allocates a support worker to a family who is on-hand to help whenever needed.

Shirley and Glyn Slater and their daughters, fiveyear- old twins Lily and Willow, and Poppy, two, are among those in the region helped by the charity.

In 2007, Lily was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumour.

Mrs Slater, from Boldon Colliery, Tyne and Wear, said the charity’s support helped them through the ordeal. “Jill, our support worker was always there when I needed someone,”

she said.

Tests last month showed Lily’s cancer has gone into remission.

Gabriella Brooks, spokeswoman for the charity, thanked the Gannett Foundation for the money. She said: “We will be using these funds to purchase arts and crafts materials as well as outdoor play equipment for our Durham care team.

“This will enable our care workers to make playtimes more fun times for the sick children and the healthy siblings that we support.”

Through donations, Rainbow helps about 1,000 families a year.