Children's art to help raise money for good causes

24 children from St Michael & All Angels Church have helped to create an online Advent Calendar as part of its Christmas Appeal.

They've each drawn a picture for the calendar, which can be seen online at www.stmichaelschristmas.org .

The pictures are also being displayed in the church behind numbered doors on an elegant five-foot high Advent Calendar frame, designed by local artists Jim Cox and Glynis Porter. A new door will be opened every day until Christmas Eve.

"This is the third year of our Advent Calendar and it's become a real local tradition" says Father Kevin Morris, vicar of St Michael's. "We think it's a wonderful way to celebrate the season and to focus attention on our Christmas Appeal, and we're very grateful to the children who've created the pictures and to our local sponsors."

On the website, instead of opening a door, visitors are faced with 24 revolving stars. Each reveals a number as the cursor is passed over it, and a click on the mouse opens the picture.

The website was created by local web designer Dan Isted of Rockboat Web Design and has been sponsored by four local firms: Fletcher Estates, Sweaty Betty and Indigo Delicafe, all in Turnham Green Terrace; and Rockboat Web Design.

Five charities will benefit from the church's Christmas Appeal this year: the Disabled Welfare Association (UK), which helps disadvantaged people in Nepal; the Epilepsy Research Foundation, based in Chiswick; the Evangelical school in Ramallah, Palestine; InterAct - a local charity which organises readings by actors for people in hospices or recovering from a stroke; and NCH, the national children’s charity.

The appeal will receive the collections from the four main Christmas services at St Michael’s as well as the proceeds of a Grand Draw to be launched this weekend and other events. Cheques made out to ‘St Michael & All Angels’ can be sent to St Michael's Christmas Appeal, Parish Office, Priory Avenue, London W4 1TT.

December 1, 2004