LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM -- (Marketwire) -- 11/23/09 -- Editors Note: There is a photograph associated with this press release.

Rainbow Trust Children's Charity's patron Austin Healey today launched the charity's festive fundraiser - the Rainbow Cracker. The former England rugby player stars in the promotional film to promote the cracker and to highlight the charity's work with families who have a child with a life threatening or terminal illness.

Rainbow Trust aims to raise Pounds Sterling 35k by selling their Christmas crackers and there are two to choose from both costing Pounds Sterling 5.00 each. The traditional cracker is a perfect present for friends & family to share over Christmas lunch and contains a hat, joke and small gift while the virtual cracker allows you to send a simple e-cracker and avoid those postage costs; both crackers give you the opportunity to enter a competition to win some fabulous gifts including: a one night's stay in a suite at the exclusive Cliveden House Hotel including dinner for two, a piece of art worth Pounds Sterling 1,500 and a diamond ring from Boodles valued at Pounds Sterling 10,000!

To buy a virtual cracker and to view Austin's message, visit www.rainbowcracker.org.uk

The ex rugby star and long-term supporter of the charity became a patron of Rainbow Trust in 2008 and since that time has supported the charity's numerous fundraising efforts and donated his Strictly Come Dancing fee to the charity. Austin said:

"I'm delighted to be supporting the Rainbow Cracker again this year. It's a fantastic way to raise funds for an extremely worthwhile charity and you can win some fabulous prizes as well."

"The charity urgently needs funds to sustain its services for families who have a seriously ill child; at this time of the year, many families find it particularly difficult to cope with the death or serious illness of a child, but Rainbow can and does help these families during some tough times. Please help these families and support Rainbow this Christmas time."

Rainbow Trust Children's Charity provides a unique and special service to families when their child is diagnosed with a life threatening or terminal illness. Set up in 1986, Rainbow Trust offers practical and emotional support through eight teams of Family Support Workers, aiming to maintain a sense of normality and keep families together. The national charity offers support at any stage of illness, from diagnosis, during treatment and throughout bereavement. No other organisation provides the extent of professional care and consistency of contact as Rainbow Trust.

Notes to Editor

- For further press information about the cracker or Rainbow Trust, please contact Gabriella Brooks on 01372 220045 or email gabriella.brooks@rainbowtrust.org.uk

- Rainbow Trust has provided vital practical & emotional support to families for over 24 years who have a child with a life threatening or terminal illness. Currently there are eight care teams in Surrey, Southampton, Swindon, Essex, County Durham, Manchester and Kendal. The charity will launch a new team in North West London in early 2010.

- Rainbow Trust relies almost entirely on voluntary donations and through the outstanding generosity of our supporters, we are able to help approximately 1,000 families a year across England.

- More information about Rainbow Trust can be found at www.rainbowtrust.org.uk

To view the photograph associated with this press release, please click on the following:

http://www.marketwire.com/library/20091120-rainbow_trust_charity.jpg

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