Help on the cards

The Fire Service National Benevolent Fund has been given a 177,035 cheque by MBNA Europe Bank, the proceeds from a five-year deal with the bank, which runs a charity credit card for the fund.

The Christmas windfall is a real lifeline for the fund which, as the Gazette reported two weeks ago, is facing financial difficulties because of a drop in donations, resulting from the continuing industrial dispute between the Fire Brigades' Union and fire brigade employers.

Fund raising manager for the FSNBF, Toni Denyer, said at the cheque presentation: "It couldn't have come at a better time. The fire strikes have meant that our firefighters, who normally do a fifth of all fund raising at this time of year, have done hardly any.

"It must be having a knock-on effect for other charities as well, as our events are normally 50 per cent for us and 50 per cent for a children's or burns charity."

Welcome though the credit card money is, the fund still faces tough times ahead, amid fears that its income could be down by around 500,000 as a result of the fire dispute, yet it is still caring for injured firefighters and their families at three centres around the country, including one next to its Marine Court headquarters in Fitzalan Road, Littlehampton.

Money is generated through the credit card scheme thanks to a 20 signing on fee which goes to the fund, followed by 0.15 per cent of all purchases made with the card, which charges no more than an ordinary credit card. There are currently 7,500 cardholders.

Toni wore her "Donation Dolly" outfit, made for the fund's headquarters Christmas party, to receive the cheque from MBNA Europe Bank senior vice-president Andrew Luckin.