Ref. 28295-46YOUNG cancer sufferer Charlie Jarvis is determined to help raise money for other people who have been struck by the condition.

And in her latest fundraising effort she has collected more than two million stamps to raise cash for Swindon-based charity CALM.

CALM - the Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Movement - supports up to 15 children at a time, helping them, and their families, financially and emotionally in their fight against cancer.

Charlie, five, was first diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare childhood form of cancer, in August 2001. She started collecting stamps about a year ago and the response from local businesses and schools has been remarkable.

She has raised more than £100 in the past six months and is hoping to get a huge response from the increase in post at Christmas.

Charlie's dad Paul, 39, a self-employed printer, said: "Businesses in and around Swindon have been fantastic. They've offered Charlie so much support."

Every two weeks the Jarvis family sends off the stamps to Southampton where they are weighed by the kilo and converted into cash. They receive about £10 for every 20 kilos collected.

This money is then ploughed back into CALM.

Mum Samantha, 32, and dad Paul are both on the committee of CALM.

Paul said: "The charity gave us great support. It is a charity very close to our hearts. We hope we can help other families who are faced with cancer by drawing on our experience."

At the moment Charlie is receiving radiotherapy treatment in Oxford and has to travel there every weekday. This treatment ends next Tuesday and then the family will look forward to a relaxing Christmas at home in Coln Crescent, Greenmeadow.

Charlie has asked for a Barbie camcorder for Christmas and is also hoping for a baby doll.

Before that, the family also have Charlie's sixth birthday to enjoy on December 22.

The family are hosting a big birthday party to which lots of Charlie's friends and family have been invited.

Charlie is still taking medication from Houston and King's College London.

Her dad said: "We keep the treatment going and hopefully Charlie will remain in remission."

She has been in remission for 16 months now.

Last year, Swindon people raised £100,000 to help Charlie.

This enabled her to receive revolutionary drug treatment in America.

Emma-Kate Lidbury