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06 Sept 2025

River Radio Toy Appeal sees over 8000 more children in NW waking up with gift on Christmas

267 kids also had a social activity day out and 15 family's who had been through a tough year availed of a Full Christmas Experience

River Radio Toy Appeal sees over 8000 more children in NW waking up with gift on Christmas

Six year old Yazmin, the mastermind behind the appeal, pictured with just some of the toys donated to the Christmas 2022 toy appeal

Reporter:

Nicole Lang

11 Jan 2023 5:00 PM

The annual River Radio Toy Appeal, in partnership with the Salvation Army, was launched again for its fourth year in 2022.
The toy appeal provides free toys for children in the North West with the mission that no child in the local area will go without a toy this Christmas.
 
The 2022 appeal saw 8053 Kids in The Northwest woke up on Christmas morning with a toy who otherwise would not have.
267 kids also had a social activity day out and 15 family's who had been through a tough year availed of a Full Christmas Experience with Gift and photo with Santa and access to all rides. 
On top of this 81 families were provided with a warm meal on Christmas day.
Speaking to Derry News, River Radio Director, Gerard Doherty, said the appeal last year was a great success but this year's delivered even more toys than were sent out 12 months ago. In 2021, 5000 families were helped by the appeal.
Gerard said: "What a year Toy Appeal 2022 has been. The River Radio Team want to say a big well done to my daughter Yazmin Doherty, our toy appeal champion, for her vision has made a massive difference to so many this Christmas 2022 in The Northwest.
"The appeal has grown every year. This started as an idea from Yazmin who is now six. She came up with the idea a couple of years ago and at the radio station, we just acted on it. 
Yazmin ready to deliver all the donations to their toy appeal's charity partner, The Salvation Army
"We collect all the toys and then we give them to our charity partner, The Salvation Army, and they distribute them to families and kids in the North West area, so it all stays locally."
Gerard said the local community is so supportive every year as even more families need help this year amidst the cost of living crisis, "We see an increase every year. Obviously we had COVID and that put a strain on families and was a tough time and then this year we have the cost of living crisis. The demand is crazy.
"We believe that Christmas is so magical and we had to ensure all kids and families in the local area could escape the mad world to enjoy the magic of Christmas, especially if they have hit hard times during a bad time.

"That magic and escape can be the joy of the kids on Christmas morning opening their gift.

"All donations were highly appreciated and supported local families and kids in the Northwest area."

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