The Time of Year to Help ose Near - Here Comes Text Santa!

The Time of Year to Help Those Near Here Comes Text Santa!

Alesha Dixon joins the presenter line-up of ITV's Text Santa for the first time this year, it was announced today.

The singer and Britain's Got Talent judge partners Paddy McGuinness for one hour of the charity appeal extravaganza on Friday 19 December.

Ant & Dec, Phillip Schofield and Christine Bleakley also present a Text Santa thats bigger than ever, with chart-topping live music performances and some of the biggest names in show business. Amongst some of the treats lined up, George Clooney takes part in a specially-written scene of Downton Abbey; The Cube has a unique Text Santa twist and the stars of Coronation Street perform as we've never seen them before. Throughout - as this is the time of year to help those near - there'll also be moving true-life charity films from the chosen charities. Text Santa 2014 promises three hours of non-stop entertainment, full to the brim of surprises.

The show raises money and awareness for six UK-based charities in the run-up to the big night. This year's chosen charities are Teenage Cancer Trust, Guide Dogs, WellChild, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Alzheimer's Society and Together for Short Lives.

The appeal has raised £15 million for charities since it started in 2011. All funds raised for Text Santa will be distributed equally between the six charities.

Alesha said: Im really excited to be joining the Text Santa team. Its a great show that does fantastic work for people we all know; as the slogan says: Its The Time of Year to Help Those Near', so I hope everyone digs deep and joins in the fun with me and the rest of the gang on Friday December 19."

Peter Fincham, ITV Director of Television said: Text Santa is now in its fourth year and not only is it getting bigger and better all the time, but we even have a touch of Hollywood glamour this year helping us raise awareness of crucial charity work in our communities. Were delighted that Morrisons and Vodafone are once again supporting us to highlight the outstanding contribution of the six very deserving charities."

It's the fourth year of the show and supporting Text Santa for 2014 are Morrisons, Vodafone, and The Hut.

Viewers can donate, please visit www.justgiving.com/textsanta.

Notes to Editors

Overview of 2014 charities:

Teenage Cancer Trust

Teenage Cancer Trust is dedicated to improving the quality of life and chances of survival for the seven young people aged 13 to 24 diagnosed with cancer every day. Teenage Cancer Trust funds and builds specialist wards in hospitals and provides dedicated staff, bringing young people together so they can be treated by teenage cancer experts in the best place for them. Teenage Cancer Trust wants every young person with cancer to have access to this specialist support, no matter where they live.

Traditionally treated alongside children or elderly patients at the end of their lives, young people can feel extremely isolated, some never meeting another young person with cancer. Being treated alongside others their own age can make a huge difference to their whole experience.

Guide Dogs

Every hour another person in the UK loses their sight, when this happens Guide Dogs is there to make sure they dont lose their freedom as well.

Guide Dogs' amazing partnerships are changing lives every day. Through the guide dogs service, buddy dogs and My Guide volunteer sighted guides, every moment of the day Guide Dogs is enabling people with sight loss get to where they want to be in life.

WellChild

There are thousands of children and young people in the UK living with a long-term or complex health condition.

WellChild is the national charity working to ensure the best possible care and support for all these children and their families wherever they are and whenever they need it.

They aim to help children out of long-term hospital care, and into their own homes through the care and attention of their UK-wide team of WellChild Nurses who provide practical and emotional support. They give these families the tools and support they need to deal with their child's illness both in the hospital and back at home once theyve returned.

Marie Curie Cancer Care

Marie Curie, a returning charity from 2012, provides free care to people with any terminal illness in their own homes and its nine hospices.

The Marie Curie Helper Service is provided by specially trained volunteers who offer people with any terminal illness and their carers invaluable companionship, emotional support and practical help, completely free of charge. For up to three hours each week, people with a serious illness and their families can rely on the support of a dedicated Helper volunteer who will visit them in their home. The Helper Service is not currently available in all areas of the UK but with the help of all the money raised from ITV Text Santa, the charity will expand this service by rolling it out to more communities across the UK.

Alzheimer's Society

By 2015, there will be 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK. There is no cure but with the right support it is possible to live well with the condition.

Alzheimers Society staff and volunteers provide over 2,000 services for people affected by dementia in our communities. These range from Dementia Support Workers, providing practical advice from diagnosis onwards, to social activities like Singing for the brain', which enables people with dementia to express themselves and sing with others in a similar situation.

Alzheimer's Society improves the lives of people with dementia and their carers by helping them remain part of their community for longer.

Together for Short Lives

A returning charity from 2012, Together for Short Lives is the leading charity for the UK's 49,000 children and young people with life-

LINK:	http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/time-year-help-those-nea...
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