This years Christmas Card Charity is.....The Border Holiday Group. I like to keep donators money local and raise awareness of different worthy charities eaxh year. The Justgiving page will go live next weekend. The Borders Holiday Group are made up of 15 volunteers, 14 of them from Hawick. The volunteers act as the committee throughout the year, fundraising and organising the trips. During the trip they act as carers and medical team for the 9 VIP's that we take away. The VIP'S are from the Borders and Southern Scotland, but mostly Hawick. They are people with care needs that find it difficult to get away on holidays. They can be physically disabled, have learning difficulties or mental health problems, or be too ill to travel as you or I would. Most have carers at home and by giving basically a 10 day all inclusive holiday with 24/7care, the VIPs get a respite holiday, that is a holiday and carers can get a much needed break where they can get a holiday safe in the knowledge their loved ones are cared for and enjoying themselves. They try to take new VIP's every year. People put folks names forward. Everyone on the trip, carers and VIP'S are asked to contribute to the cost, but this covers very little of the final cost, the committee work hard between each trip to raise extra money. So when they go away-all meals, accommodation travel and excursions are paid for. Next year they are looking at something in the region of £39000. They hire the Jumbulance to travel in, a specially designed fully accessible bus come ambulance, and travel by overnight ferry from Hull to Rotterdam spending 7 nights in Heerlen in southern Holland. All donations will be greatly received for our local charity, selflessly doing excellent work. I will share the justgiving page once it is set up next weekend. Thanks. D x