You can support brave kids like Brooke Scott who lost her dad in Afghanistan by donating to our Smile at Christmas campaign
Charity Scotty's Little Soliders offers comfort and support to tots who have lost parents in combat
BRAVE Brooke Scott sleeps with a photo of the daddy she never knew beside her bed.
She was just seven months old when Corporal Lee Scott, 26, died along with five comrades when their armoured vehicle was blown up in Afghanistan in 2009.
Brooke’s widowed mum Nikki set up to help children like her own.
Wearing her father’s beret and holding his medals, the seven-year-old says: “My daddy was a brave soldier killed by the baddies. Scotty’s helps children like me with a daddy in heaven.”
After Lee died, Nikki, 35, of Wisbech, Cambs, felt there was no outside support for son Kai, who was then five.
She says: “When we went on holiday months later it was the first time Kai had really laughed since Lee died. There were widows’ associations, but nothing for children.”
Scotty’s currently looks after 269 military kids — but Nikki believes there could be 1,000 more who need help. The charity runs six Scotty’s Lodges holiday homes where families go free each year.
Each child gets birthday and Christmas presents as well as emotional support.
Nikki says: “Scotty’s gives children a family of people who understand.”
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Text: To give £2, text KIDS55 2 to 70070. You can change the amount to £3, £4, £5 or £10 by changing the last figure to 3, 4, 5 or 10.
Post: Send a cheque, made payable to JustGiving Foundation, to JustGiving The Sun Appeal, Bluefin Building 2nd Floor, London SE1 0TA
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You can donate new or used toys in good condition at 1,370 branches of McColl’s convenience stores.
Toys “R” Us will accept new toys only — look for special Sun trolleys near entrances.
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