LORNA MARSH Scores of you wrote in with nominations, then you voted in your hundreds. But now weeks of nail-biting has come to an end as today we reveal the winners of our fantastic Give It Up For Charity competition.

LORNA MARSH

Scores of you wrote in with nominations, then you voted in your hundreds.

But now weeks of nail-biting has come to an end as today we reveal the winners of our fantastic Give It Up For Charity competition.

The EDP teamed up with the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) to mark National Giving Week by awarding five charities £1,000 each.

The week, which ends tomorrow, aims to raise awareness of the countless charities that struggle to compete for limited funding to do work that too often goes unrecognised.

This year CAF is urging people to think about the daily savings they could make and then donate them to charity, such as walking or cycling to work instead of taking the car or bus and giving the money saved to a favourite cause.

Another aim is to highlight how recouping tax by simply agreeing to the Gift Aid scheme can make the essential donations go that much further.

To celebrate National Giving Week here we reveal the winners of our Give It Up For competition as voted by EDP readers with details of how the money will make a difference.

www.cafonline.org

www.nationalgivingweek.org

BIG C

Based in Norwich, the Big C is committed to the care and support of cancer sufferers and their families throughout Norfolk and north Suffolk, and to funding research into cancer at the UEA.

Sharon Hulbert, fundraising manager, said: “The money will help improve the lives of those suffering from cancer locally. I can't thank people enough for choosing the Big C.”

BREAK

Sheringham-based BREAK provides special care services for children, adults and families with special needs - including holidays and respite care, children's homes, adult day care and residential assessments for families in crisis.

Alan Leedham, BREAK fundraising manager, said: “We are delighted to be chosen by readers. The £1,000 will provide the contribution towards seven nights of vital respite for a child with disabilities this half term week - so they can enjoy a wonderful seaside holiday in Sheringham, and their parents or carers can take some time to regain their strength to carry on caring.

“We are really pleased to be held in such high esteem by readers and encourage them to continue to support BREAK in what ever way they can - by volunteering time to support our work or raise funds, or even just shopping or donating goods to one of our 24 shops in the area.”

EACH HOSPICE

Children with life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses and their families will benefit from the £1,000 going to the East Anglia Children's Hospice (EACH), which offers help across a range of settings, including the home, hospice and hospital.

It will cost about £4m to continue the charity's work in 2006/7 and with only approximately 10pc of this funding coming from statutory sources, voluntary income is absolutely vital.

Melanie Chew, fundraising manager, said: “The money will be spent on providing care for children both at the Quidenham Hospice but also in their own homes in Norfolk. I would like to thank everyone who voted for us.”

NELSON'S JOURNEY

Nelson's Journey, which organises weekend camps and activity days for bereaved children aged six to 13 and young people aged 14 to 17, was a popular choice with readers.

The organisation works with children therapeutically, helping them discover healthier ways of managing their emotions related to the loss of a significant person in their life.

Kim Greensmith, programme manager, said: “We are really pleased to be one of the charities to receive £1,000.

“This money will be used to provide resources which will enable a group of bereaved children to attend a therapeutic weekend camp next spring.

“These weekends make so much difference to bereaved children.”

WULUGU PROJECT

The CAF cheque has already doubled in value for the Wulugu Project, which works to improve education in Ghana, thanks to match funding from an anonymous corporate donor.

Lynne Symonds, founder of the charity who has also been made a tribal chief in Africa, said: “It is fantastic news. I can't thank the people enough who voted for us. Often people donate to the well-known charities and the smaller ones miss out, so this is great.

“It is not exaggerating to say we have saved thousands of lives over the years through education. We work with people in some of the most deprived places in the world who are really trying to break the cycle of poverty. Education is the key.”

The charity has big plans in the future including setting up more schools.

“Our anonymous corporate donor has agreed to match fund donations to the tune of £80,000 over the next three years so the £1,000 has already become £2,000,” said Ms Symonds, from Great Melton, near Yarmouth.

The charity is looking for volunteers to help in the UK with fundraising and other work. Anyone interested should call Jane Scott on 01603 453750.