SANTA is joining in the fundraising for Jamie's Have a Heart Appeal, as the total now reaches £5,500.

The Evening Press and Nestl sponsored grotto at Monks Cross Shopping Park has a special wishing well where visitors can make a donation to the appeal.

Organiser Mark Brayshaw said they will collect money for Jamie's appeal until the grotto closes at 2pm on Christmas Eve, and if they don't raise enough the park will make the money up to pay for one heart monitor £650.

Jamie's Have a Heart Appeal, which was set-up by the Evening Press two weeks ago, is in memory of 14-year-old Huntington School pupil Jamie Bucknell, who collapsed and died in school on November 12. His death has caused a public outpouring of emotion and his family are fully supporting our appeal.

The appeal is trying to raise £7,500 to buy 12 portable heart monitors for York District Hospital. The monitors can be taken home by a patient suffering with a heart irregularity and can be used to record vital information.

If you are organising any fundraising activities contact Emma Harrison, health reporter, or Richard Edwards in the Evening Press newsroom on 01904 653051. Or e-mail on emma.harrison@ycp.co.uk or richard.edwards@ycp.co.uk.

Donations should be sent to either reporter and it will be paid into a special bank account set up for the appeal. Cheques should be made out to "Jamie's Have a Heart Appeal".

The snowman grotto is in the information centre next door to BHS and costs £2.50.

Updated: 09:04 Wednesday, December 12, 2001