CHILDREN will go nuts for National Doughnut Week next week while helping to raise awareness and support for youngsters living with brain injury.

The Children’s Trust is the leading charity for children with brain injury, and the national week aims to raise money to support the Trust to continue to provide its rehabilitation work at their specialist centre.

This year, Swindon author Steve Antony has also thrown his weight behind the cause, is pledging to donate a batch of his acclaimed children’s book ‘Please Mr Panda’ to The Children Trust.

The book is about good manners and doughnuts so linking up with the week and the charity was a natural step for Steve.

He has also supported the week with the creation of a beautiful illustration depicting Mr Panda celebrating the week’s activities.

Steve said: “I’m so pleased to be able to support the valuable work of The Children’s Trust and help raise awareness of National Donut Week, which annually raises money for children with brain injury who receive rehabilitation at the charity’s national specialist centre.

"I’m thrilled that I can contribute with an illustrated donut or two.”

National Doughnut Week will takes place from May 9 to May 16 and all proceeds raised will be directly donated to The Children’s Trust.

Founded by independent baker Christopher Freeman in 1991, National Donut Week has raised £812,315 for children’s charities with the sale of over 14 million doughnuts since it began. In 2005, The Children’s Trust became the chosen charity and has received £312,000 from the event.

It is estimated that more than 40,000 children across the UK are left with a brain injury each year after an accident or illness.

Each child has their own tailored rehabilitation incorporating lots of different therapies, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and also music therapy.

The Children’s Trust also supports hundreds of children in their own communities through its Brain Injury Community Team.

Katie Roberts, head of voluntary fundraising with The Children’s Trust, said: “We are delighted to have Steve Antony’s support for this special fun, fundraising event and thank him for his donation of books.”

For more inspiration on how to get involved with fundraising and doughnut eating, visit The Children’s Trust or National Doughnut Week websites at thechildrenstrust.org.uk/doughnuts or nationaldoughnutweek.org