The Ham&High is delighted to announce that we will be working closely with two charity partners in 2016.

Ham & High: Geoff Martin with ward sister Blanka Aldridge, Hospice manager Jackie Laidlaw and fundraising manager Arlene Main at the Marie Curie Hospice in HampsteadGeoff Martin with ward sister Blanka Aldridge, Hospice manager Jackie Laidlaw and fundraising manager Arlene Main at the Marie Curie Hospice in Hampstead (Image: Archant)

After intense debate, the Marie Curie Hospice in Hampstead and the Alexandra Wylie Tower Foundation were selected as the two causes we will support this year.

Our aim is to help each charity raise £50,000 during 2016.

Throughout the year, this newspaper will be running joint campaigns with them, and news editor Dave Burke will be running the Virgin Money London Marathon in April to raise money for both charities.

Each year the Ham&High will select two local causes that we will work closely with, and urge our readers to support.

Editor Geoff Martin said: “The Ham&High has a long and strong tradition of partnering with local charities and I’m delighted that this year we will be helping to raise awareness as well as hard cash for two great causes.

“I have personal experience of the wonderful, inspiring work done on a daily basis at the Hampstead Hospice for people and their families in a real time of need, and the Alexandra Wylie Tower Foundation celebrates a special young woman whose life was tragically cut short.

“I am sure our readers will respond in their customary generous fashion and join us in making 2016 a great year for both these worthy causes.”

The hospice provides crucial help and support for terminally-ill patients and their families.

The AWTF, set up in memory of 17-year-old Alexandra Wylie, supports disadvantaged children in North London

AWTF patron Juliet Stevenson said: “I am so thrilled to hear that the Ham&High has chosen the AWTF as one of its charities for the year.

“The paper has been such a wonderful supporter of AWTF over the five years of its existence, always helping us to publicise events, sending photographers, sharing information about the charity’s plans and ideals. So this is the icing on the cake!”

And fellow patron, actress Michelle Collins, said: “We are so grateful that this wonderful local paper has chosen the Alexandra Wylie Tower Foundation as one of its charities of the year.

“The charity is expanding and we are supporting more and more disadvantaged children in North London so the timing couldn’t be better. “There are many young people in our community who have so much potential but not enough resources so we are encouraging all Ham&High readers to get involved.”