THIS year's GMTV Get Up & Give week, July 16-20 2001, will, once again, provide an excellent opportunity for us all to support small charities that really need our help.

So far the Get Up & Give appeal has raised over £3.2 million pounds through our viewers' generous donations and corporate and community fund-raising.

The benefiting charities this year are: the Association of Children's Hospices (ACH), which provides vital care and support for thousands of families caring for a child with a life-limiting illness; Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA), providing support and information to children and families affected by cleft lip and/or palate; Deafblind UK, empowering Deafblind people to live life to the full; Haemophilia Society, ensuring people with haemophilia and related blood disorders receive the best quality treatment; and Pets as Therapy (PAT), bringing companionship, comfort and therapy visits to hospitals, hospices, residential homes, day centres and special needs schools.

We really need your support to help these worthwhile charities to aid people that are less advantaged than ourselves. We also express our thanks to BT who have supported GMTV's "Get Up & Give" appeal since its inception and will continue this year by providing the telephony and call centre system throughout the week. If you would like to make a donation the pledge line will be open between 6-11am throughout the week July 16-20. The number to call is 0845 7 729 729. We get up, you give, they benefit, please help.

Eamonn Holmes, Fiona Phillips,

Kate Garraway, Lorraine Kelly

and Andrea McLean

(on behalf of GMTV)