I am aiming to raise funds for a special appeal that has been part of my life for 40 years. It's an appeal that is right at the heart of life in East London.

It was all those years ago that I first helped launch the Community Links and Newham Recorder Christmas Toy Appeal, with co-founder and now life president Kevin Jenkins. The appeal has helped thousands of children over those years at this special time of year and the appeal is still as relevant today as it was back then.

Over the coming weeks, the Recorder and Links are combining again for the campaign to reach out to thousands of vulnerable children, families and adults.

Christmas can be a time of stress and isolation as many of our children are still living in poverty. But this appeal looks to strengthen communities and raise aspirations at this time, making Christmas special and futures brighter.

I am proud to be a Freeman of Community Links, a patron of the toy appeal, having been part of the appeal for the Recorder as reporter, news editor, sub-editor, assistant editor, deputy editor, associate editor and then as Editor for my last 15 years at the Recorder.

Next month will be the 40th time I have dived in to swim 50 lengths breast stroke to help raise money for the appeal. We are also staging a quiz night in December and Links and the Recorder will be publishing a list of drop off points all over Newham where you can donate new toys and gifts. We need to collect 18,000 new toys - a huge challenge.

All the money will be spent on new toys for the appeal, which the entire community in Newham supports. If you would like to give to my small effort or the wider appeal that would be great. Thank you.