A MOTHER who helped provide a brighter future for thousands of Merseyside children has said the need for donations has never been greater.

Cathy Frost, who chairs the NSPCC’s fundraising committee, said the work of Everton’s Hargreaves Centre was absolutely essential in the economic downturn.

She said: “Without this centre, where would families and children get help?

“It provides an absolutely vital service to young people suffering sexual, physical or emotional abuse.

“Abuse is not going to alter and we have seen massive increases in the number of calls to Childline and this is expected to continue rising this year.”

Cathy has spearheaded the charity’s annual sporting lunch for the past nine years.

A keen volunteer, she saw a gap in the market for a fundraising event aimed at the city’s growing business, banking and property sector. From humble beginnings raising £6,000 in the first year, the lunch now raises in excess of £50,000.

She said: “The atmosphere at the lunch is great and once they’ve been one year, everybody comes back.

“It’s like a sporting dinner but is a bit more refined and we have a lot of fun.”

The event, which has attracted the likes of Liverpool FC’s Mark Wright and ex-cricketer David Gower, has also played a huge part in the success of the Hargreaves Centre.

Cathy said: “The NSPCC was founded in Liverpool and has huge support across Merseyside. It used to have offices in Picton in two houses which weren’t big enough.

“Six years ago, there was an idea to build a new centre and we launched a new appeal ‘The Safe Place Appeal’.

“It was an exciting time but it took years to get a site and the planning, it took a lot of effort from everyone.

“But this new centre is fantastic, the appeal is to fund the centre’s upkeep for 10 years, but we need to keep fundraising beyond that.”

This year’s sporting lunch will be held on May 1, with ex-England Rugby international star Martin Bayfield.

A charity auction and raffle will also offer the chance to edit an edition of the Liverpool Daily Post.

Tickets for the lunch cost £70 each, £700 per table of 10 and £950 for a VIP table.

Please contact Helen Gazzola, NSPCC community fundraising manager, on 07971 291 323, or email hgazzola@nspcc.org.uk

SEE a video of Cathy at the Hargreaves Centre by logging on to liverpooldailypost.co.uk/videos later today.