I WANTED to appeal to your readers to ask them their used stamps this Christmas and donate them to Kidney Care UK to help us raise much- needed funds for kidney patients.

Every Christmas more than one billion cards are sent in the UK and for every 1kg of used stamps donated we can raise as much as £20 to help people with chronic kidney disease.

There are 64,000 people being treated for kidney failure in the UK right now and 99 people are currently waiting for a transplant in North Yorkshire.

Your support will help us to provide practical, financial and emotional support for kidney patients and their families when they need it most; we believe no-one should face kidney disease alone, and especially to hold on to not at Christmas.

You can read and download our step by step guide to collecting and donating used stamps at www.kidneycareuk.org

Paddy Tabor MVO

Chief Executive, Kidney Care UK

Alton