A SMALL children’s charity has achieved big things, raising more than £72,000 for disabled children in a year.

The Colchester Children’s Charity, which has two shops in Old Heath Road, is celebrating after raising an astronomical amount through shop sales.

The charity has been registered since 1988, and was formerly known as the Colchester Children’s Day Care Centre Appeal.

Since then it has helped thousands of children with sickness, disability or terminal illness.

The charity closed its Mersea Road shop in August last year due to a shortage in volunteers, but staff have not let that stop them in their fundraiser endeavours.

Cheryl Darnell, a trustee for the charity, said: “The charity has been fundraising for years, but I joined about a year ago, and since then it has raised £72,500.

“I have raised £3,500 through my own selling site for the charity and I’m really grateful I have had the opportunity to do this.

“It will help disabled children in the area, providing equipment their families cannot afford.

“It has all come from sales from the shop. It’s a small charity so they have done really well to raise that.”

Her daughter Julia Rose, 32, ran the Colchester Half Marathon and raised an extra £300 for the charity.

Residents have hailed the charity superstars for supporting good causes.

In 2015 they raised £90,000 which was distributed between Muscular Dystrophy UK, Autism Anglia and East Anglia’s 

Children’s Hospices as well as donating to individual pleas for

help.

The charity is holding a fun day to raise money on Sunday.

It will run from 12.30pm until 5.20pm at the St Cedds Hall in

Iceni Way, Colchester.

Only Fools and Horses star Paul Barber will be a special guest, as well as members of the Army, Disney characters and majorettes. There will be a raffle, stalls and games for everyone to enjoy.

To find out more visit the Colchester Children’s Charity Appeal on Facebook.