A CHARITY which takes disabled and seriously ill people on canal day trips is asking Standard readers to vote online and help them win £5,000.

The Willow Trust, based in Cirencester and Frampton-on-Severn, has been chosen as the Gloucestershire nomination for a potential £5,000 award from Engage Mutual Assurance.

The charity is urging people to vote for them online and help them win a substantial amount of money to go towards day trips for the disabled.

Trust administrator Linda Diggory said: “Every year we take 7,000 guests on day trips on the Gloucester to Sharpness Canal and not one of them pays.

"Each trip costs around £450, taking 30 guests on one of our two boats, along with a skipper and four volunteer helpers.

“We’re delighted that one of our 90 volunteers nominated us for the award, and if we get enough votes to be one of the top seven nominations then we could receive the money.

“The charity raises all the funds to pay for the day trips so we would really appreciate your votes as £5,000 would pay for enough fuel for one boat for the whole season. We’re currently between seventh and sixth place so stand a good chance of success.”

Vote at willowtrust.org by the deadline of Monday, November 17.