A FIRM'S decision not to send Christmas cards to its customers has paid off for a charity.

Workwear Express decided that instead of splashing out on cards, it would donate £500 to the Clarke Lister Brain Haemorrhage Foundation, in Peterlee.

The Coxhoe workwear supplier also told more than 1,000 customers on its database about the charity, which funds research and plans to launch a support network, including specialist nurses, for haemorrhage victims.

The firm has adopted the foundation as its charity for the year and plans to raise more cash.

Sales executive Debbie Carney used to work with Brian Lister, who founded the charity with his wife, Carole, after their ten-year-old son, Clarke, died of a haemorrhage.

She said: "We try to support a local concern each year and I put forward the foundation. I think it is such a good cause.''

The foundation has a target of £1.2m and in the five years since the Listers began fund-raising has netted more than £130,000.

The foundation runs a support group for haemorrhage survivors, which meets at 7pm on the first Monday of the month at the Priory Rehabilitation Centre, O'Neill Drive, Peterlee.

For further details about the foundation call 0191-586 9239.