FOUR down – 66 to go!

The first four seats on the When You Wish Upon A Star charity flight to Lapland have been filled – but we still need your help to sponsor the remaining 66 seats to make this once-in-a-lifetime trip happen.

As reported, every December, the charity flies poorly girls and boys to Lapland to meet Father Christmas, but currently does not have enough cash to pay for it.

The Grimsby Telegraph has launched a challenge to YOU for October – to raise £300 in whatever way you can to pay for each of the remaining 70 seats on the plane.

And so far, support for Grimsby mum and daughter Pat and Joanne Wright, who run the charity in this area, has been flying in.

The Telegraph kickstarted the fundraising appeal with staff donating cash for one seat, which the company then agreed to match by donating £300 – enough to pay for one child to visit Santa on December 10.

Managing director Terry Smith has pledged £300 to help send children on the trip of a lifetime to Lapland.

Soon after, Terry Smith, of Grimsby Humberside Saab dealership, put the appeal into top gear.

He said: "I've known a couple of children who have travelled to Lapland in the past and I think the work the charity does is fantastic.

"What can you get for £300 these days? If you can make a young child very happy and give them memories that last a lifetime, that's priceless.

"I would urge other companies to get behind the scheme and do what they can."

Steve Johnson, general manager of Hartwell Ford, on Grimsby's Corporation Road, has also donated £300.

He said: "My son has cystic fibrosis and this particular charity is very close to my heart because one day, God willing hopefully not, I might want my son to go on that trip.

"With having a child with an inherited disease I am sympathetic to that cause and £300 isn't really a lot of money."

Grimsby Telegraph editor Michelle Lalor and staff with £300 for the appeal.

And at the Grimsby Telegraph, staff dug deep to raise £300 in a whip-round, which was matched by the company.

Our involvement does not stop there – as reported, we will be collecting cash on When You Wish Upon A Star's behalf. As the money comes in, we will fill in the plane seats on our graphic and feature every contributor.

Send your money, with cheques made payable to Wish Upon A Star, to editor Michelle Lalor at: Grimsby Telegraph, 80 Cleethorpe Road, Grimsby, DN31 3EH. Don't forget to include your name and phone number.

Let us know how you are helping When You Wish Upon A Star by contacting the newsroom on (01472) 372236 or emailing newsdesk@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk