Sexy dressing for Valentine's
Jedward Jacko tribute
Quake children for sale
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Orlando gets a soaking
Special prezzies for forces children
Email us your details to claim a FREE gift this Christmas
GIFTS - Claim yours now
OUR Toys For Our Boys campaign is in full swing - and this week your special mission is codenamed Operation Mouse.
Forces families with a dad or mum fighting in Afghanistan need to get clicking and send us their details to ensure FREE toys for the kids from Santa in time for Christmas.
Because we've joined up with supermarket giant Tesco to give £25 worth of presents for EVERY CHILD who has a parent on the front line - that's £140,000 in total.
Just email to toys@notw.co.uk:
THE name of the serving member of the family.
THE number, age and gender of his/her children.
THE name of the serving member's home unit.
It's as simple as that! The presents will then be dropped off at military bases around the country.
Almost 5,500 youngsters will be missing at least one parent this Christmas because their mum or dad is 3,000 miles away bravely tackling the Taliban.
So our very own Santa will tour barracks up and down the country throughout December to make a special delivery to the children of 9,500 front line troops. Thanks to the Ministry of Defence announcement of our offer on its intranet, your emails have already started flooding in.
This week, Tesco will begin the big operation to transport lorry loads of goodies from warehouses all over the country to our central depot where they will be wrapped up. Generous toy manufacturers have got behind the campaign in true Yuletide spirit. Our stockings will be bulging with goodies from Mattel, Lego, Hasbro, Character Group, Vivid Imaginations and Ubisoft - including the sell-out VTECH BABY LOAD and GO CAR CARRIER which introduces babies to numbers, colours, animals and sing-along songs.
And we've also planned a very special treat for those who face the saddest Christmas of all - without a beloved father who has given his life for his country.
We've teamed up with package holiday specialists First Choice to give three families a trip of a lifetime to Lapland.
There they will meet the REAL Father Christmas. Santa will put them up in a London hotel before flying them out to his homeland where they'll spend 24 hours in the stunning winter wonderland.
Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said: "Being far away from loved ones at Christmas is one of the most difficult elements of Armed Forces life - both for the men and women serving in Afghanistan, and for their families at home in the UK.
"We know that without their families' support and love, our troops would not be able to do the job they do - and this campaign is an excellent way of helping to thank our Service families for the sacrifice they make at Christmas, and throughout the year.
"I would like to offer my thanks to News of the World readers, both personally and on behalf of the armed forces, for supporting this Christmas campaign, and for their continuing support all year round for our brave men and women who are deployed overseas protecting the UK national interest."
Nick Cooke, Tesco's senior commercial manager for toys, said: "We're delighted to help such a worthwhile cause."
And documentary maker and telly hardman Ross Kemp, who has spent months in Afghanistan filming British troops on the frontline, has also given the campaign his full backing.
He said: "Toys For Our Boys is an excellent initiative. One of the hardest things for our troops is being away from their children, and Christmas can be a huge challenge.
"Anything that can be done to make it a little easier for them is a huge achievement."
The goodies are available to all children who have a parent on active service in Afghanistan during Christmas 2009.
So sign up today and we'll let you know where and when to collect your Christmas stocking.
Send your email to: toys@notw.co.uk
Post your comment here
Please note: All comments are moderated.
Tick this box to accept our
TERMS & CONDITIONS
We have to check every comment before we can allow it to be published. But don't worry, we've got a team on it 24/7 - so check back soon! Please note that we cannot publish all comments received. The editor's decision is final. Please note that your email address will not be displayed next to your comment.
Sarah Harding
Simon says: Move out SuBo
Sara Payne: My battle for life
The land that crime forgot
Gun law for Haiti looters
The Kingmakers
JOHN TERRY'S SH*GGING & GAGGING
John Terry spends a fortune hiding FOUR MORE lovers
JOHN TERRY IN £137k FRAUD TRIAL
Shamed star will be named in friend Faisal Madani's court case
John Terry thinks it's Orl over... it is now!
John Terry bedded Big Brother star Orliath while Toni was pregnant.
'Cruel Wayne ditched me for a gold digger'
Wayne Bridge dumped Sam Ramplin for Vanessa Perroncel
SERIAL WAG GOT FIXTURE LISTS TO FIND HER NEXT MAN
Vanessa Perroncel sent coded messages and naked pictures to JT.
AFTER ALL THIS HE'S STILL DAD OF THE YEAR
Sauce bosses WON'T take title away from John Terry.
Katie Price couldn't be bothered to phone her boy
So heartless..model couldn't be bothered to phone her boy.
PM: BLAIR STIFFED ME
Brown admits to Piers Morgan Tony went back on deal for top job.
WHAT A VICTORY!
Wounded British soldiers to recieve 30% compensation boost.
My kinky sex games with Jigsaw Killer's moll
Ex-lover reveals sordid truth about Stephen Marshall's girlfriend
This article has 22 comments
Great idea, much appreciated. I am out in Afghanistan at the moment so will ensure the message is passed to all. Thanks to NOTW and Tesco - brilliant!
By Nick.. Posted December 11 2009 at 5:21 PM.
Another Navy wife here... luckily we're going to have a Daddy here for Christmas (hopefully!), but if he was away, it wouldn't be in Afghanistan. Doesn't mean the children miss him any less though. Don't forget the people defending our country in other places please.
By Mrs Roberts.. Posted December 1 2009 at 9:19 PM.
This is such a wonderfull idea..Thank you ..Is this for all the forces kids over seas as well ?
By Domenique Bergh.. Posted December 1 2009 at 7:40 PM.
I think this is a great thing to do as the children will love it my husband is currently serving in Afganistan he is in the RAF and it is good to see all the heros out there are getting support from everyone so thank you xxx
By Michelle Haggarty.. Posted December 1 2009 at 7:11 PM.
thts great my fella is in iraq nd me and my 2 daughters r missin him loads x
By sarah.. Posted December 1 2009 at 6:44 PM.
my husband is on his 2 weeks leave from afganistan but is going back out there on the 5th, he will be away from home this xmas and my children will be missing him dearly, this is a great idea and the kids will love it but will not take away the fact that there daddy is not here
By victoria mcskelly.. Posted December 1 2009 at 5:49 PM.
thats a good thing to do thanks
By jade.. Posted December 1 2009 at 4:28 PM.
hi
how i can get free toys for my child.how to registered
By sowmya.. Posted December 1 2009 at 4:15 PM.
I think its a nice idea but its not just those with a parent in Afghanistan who will miss having them home for Christmas. My husband serves in the Royal Navy and has never yet been home for a single Christmas in our son's 5years, but no-one seems to worry about him or the countless others like him who are apart from loved ones. Our serving personnel don't get to choose where they go but they are separated from their families none-the-less. Surely that should be recognised too, but then the MoD clearly don't even see them as important enough to justify for free post as Op Herrick does, so why should anyone else.
By RNwife.. Posted December 1 2009 at 3:57 PM.
i think this is a lovely idea my husband is in afghanistan this christmas me and my daughter are missing him lots. thankyou.
By kim glover.. Posted December 1 2009 at 1:13 PM.
im interested too
By Alan Buonomo.. Posted December 1 2009 at 1:10 PM.
My little girl is lucky to have her daddy here this christmas but i think this is a great idea for the kids who will be away from their mums and dads this christmas. I hope this does extend to all the children who are bfpo as well as in the uk. x
By emma duncan.. Posted December 1 2009 at 12:12 PM.
That is really nice for the kids!
By Dawn boyd.. Posted December 1 2009 at 11:59 AM.
I know that above some people have asked the same question but what is happening to the children that are abroad, my grandchild and her mum are in Germany and her Daddy is in Afghanistan so are they getting this brilliant offer to as it is such a lovely thing to do.
By kay Williamson.. Posted November 30 2009 at 10:48 PM.
My husband wont be here this xmas and already the emotion is building. This is such a kind and brilliant brilliant idea. Well done News of the World.
By Tamsin Banyard.. Posted November 30 2009 at 9:47 PM.
What a fantastic idea, what about provisions for those with parents elsewhere on operations/overseas for Christmas?? There will be parents out in the Falklands, Kosovo etc
By Helen.. Posted November 30 2009 at 3:33 PM.
Hi there I live in germany with my 3 boys whos dad is away in afgan for xmas ...is this just for children in the uk or is it bfpo children as well ....any way i think this is a brill thing to do and i thank you for the though ...this is the first time that there is not a buzz about xmas in the house because for there dad being away but i am trying to make it awee bit better ....there dad has only been with us for 15 weeks this year and i know of another family over here that is the same ....my boys are 9yrs 4yrs and 2yrs and we are so looking forward to feb when we can all be a family again
By Angie willett.. Posted November 30 2009 at 3:08 PM.
My husband is in the Army and my two girls are lucky enough to have their dad home for Christmas, but what a wonderfull idea for all the little ones that will miss their mummys and daddys this year. Thank you x
By Joanne Morris.. Posted November 30 2009 at 9:30 AM.
i will not be on operations this Christmas but can only give my full support to this campaign. The Sun and the NOTW have almost single handedly raised the public awareness of the job our boys and girls are doing. well done and thank you.
By Chris.. Posted November 29 2009 at 9:08 PM.
My husband won't be home for Christmas to see his two daughters, one 3 and the other 6 but what a great idea. Many Thanks.
By Bianca Cowan.. Posted November 29 2009 at 8:21 PM.
I don't know of any forces children but i just wanted to say what an absolutely lovely thing for you to do.
By Rebbecca Keville.. Posted November 29 2009 at 6:35 PM.
Fantastic initative. Thankyou xx
By Joanne Shepherd.. Posted November 29 2009 at 1:29 PM.