As Dame Vera Lynn celebrates her 102nd Birthday she reflects on why the Charity she established in 2001 remains as important to her today.

"My role as President is extremely important to me. The free service that our Charity provides is a lifeline to our families and we must keep it going for the children's sake. The need for this early intervention service is just as important today as it was when I first established the Charity in 2001.

"Perseverance and not giving up have been the secret of my success. Now I am reminded of the importance of perseverance regularly through my Charity. The perseverance these young children display every day is inspirational. Seeing a child smile, or his parents laugh, reminds me that giving up isn't worth it - persistence can be so rewarding.

"It is wonderful to still be involved and with your help we can continue to help all those little children and their families who need our support. It would mean so much to me if we were able to raise £5,000 to enable us to help even more families from across the Southeast access our vital and much needed services.

"I am extremely grateful to each and every one of our supporters and your donations will make such a huge difference to children with cerebral palsy and other motor learning impairments to be able to realise their potential."

THANK YOU

Dame Vera Lynn CH, DBE, LLD, M.Mus