Ref. 28453-10SINCE appearing in the Advertiser two weeks ago, young cancer sufferer Charlie Jarvis has been inundated with stamps for her fundraising appeal.

Charlie, six, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in August 2001.

She has travelled as far as Texas for treatment and doctors are still monitoring her condition - but this hasn't stopped her trying to help other sufferers.

Over the Christmas period the Jarvis family doormat was covered with post for Charlie.

Parents Sam, 32, and Paul, 40, had the daunting task of cutting out all the stamps and putting them in bin liners.

They have received more than two million stamps since they launched their appeal about a year ago.

"We had three bin liners full of stamps over Christmas," said Paul, 40, a self-employed printer.

"After the article appeared in the Advertiser we had a massive influx of post for Charlie. There was a great response, a really noticeable difference.

"We'd really like to thank everyone who has supported us."

All money raised from the stamp collecting goes to Calm the Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Movement a Swindon-based charity which currently supports 18 local families in their fight against cancer.

The stamps are sent to Southport, where they are converted into cash. For every kilo of stamps collected, the charity receives £5. A full binbag of stamps is worth about £20 to Calm.

Paul Jarvis said: "We really want to help other families going through what we've been through.

"It's up to us now to help other children who are in the same situation we were.

"We will continue to collect the stamps for as long as people send them. These children need our support."

Charlie's last radiotherapy treatment ended on December 23 but doctors will continue to monitor her and she will have tests in mid-February.

In September Charlie's left kidney was removed in a preventative operation. She has now been in remission for 16 months.

The Jarvis family enjoyed a relaxing Christmas at home in Coln Crescent, Greenmeadow.

Charlie and sister Robyn, nine, received all the presents they had requested from Father Christmas, including a baby doll and a PlayStation2.

Shortly after Christmas, Charlie was presented with a cheque for £150 from First City Nursing, a nursing service in Victoria Road.

The firm has supported the family for more than 18 months and has been heavily involved in fundraising.

Manager Dawn Drew and assistant manager Jo Chandler gave Charlie the £150 which had been raised from collection pots in their offices.

Sam Jarvis said: "First City Nursing has been so good to us, we really want to thank them."

First City paid for the Jarvis family to go to Disneyland Paris last Christmas.

Stamps and donations should be sent to: Charlie Jarvis, 14 Coln Crescent, Greenmeadow, Swindon SN25 3NA