ITV's Text Santa appeal

Stars of ITV's This Morning celebrate the launch of this year's Text Santa campaign, and explain how last year's £5.5million donations were distributed among its six chosen charities.

This year's charities are:

Age UK

Barnados

Beat Bullying

British Heart Foundation

Clic Sargent

Help the Hospices

More: Cheryl Cole films Coronation Street episode for Text Santa campaign

In the final report on ITV's Text Santa appeal we meet a remarkable young man who's fought back from a rare condition to be an inspiration to others. Michael Willacy from Blackpool suddenly collapsed whilst on holiday after his brain swelled causing permanent damage.

But he still managed to get himself 5 GCSE's this year and is studying for a career in IT. Michael says he wouldn't be the young man he is today without the support of his local hospice.

Our reporter Sarah Rogers went to meet him:

As many of us gear up for our Christmas celebrations we take a look at one charity who work tirelessly to make sure one generation isn't overlooked. Age UK are one of the charities being supported by our Text Santa appeal this year.

They've been running Christmas parties across the region to make sure those who would normally be on their own get a chance to put on their glad rags and kick up their heels.

Sarah Rogers went along with them:

ITV says: 100% of donations made by viewers are evenly distributed to ITV's chosen charities within three months of each televised appeal.

All Text Santa operating costs including staffing and the programme itself are funded directly by ITV as part of its corporate giving, and not from its corporate partners or viewer contributions._

Something a lot of us take for granted at Christmas is our families and our homes. But for some children growing up in the region stability can be a luxury.

As part of our ITV Text Santa appeal - we meet one young woman who has been in and out of care most of her life as her parents battled drug addiction.

But she's getting her life back on track after children's charity Barnardo's provided her with a home at a facility called MyPad. Sarah Rogers went to find out more.

For more about ITV Text Santa appeal, click here

100% of donations made by viewers are evenly distributed to ITV's chosen charities within three months of each televised appeal.

All Text Santa operating costs including staffing and the programme itself are funded directly by ITV as part of our corporate giving, and not from our corporate partners or your contributions._

Here's a look at how our Text Santa appeal is helping one of a number of different charities.

The CLIC Sargent charity helps children, and their parents, as they go through cancer. They pay for things like travel costs to and from hospital and offer emotional support.

One young man they recently helped is Parker Hawe. Parker is one of triplets, and he was first diagnosed with leukaemia when he was 4.

In the first of a special series, our reporter Sarah Rogers went to meet him.