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YOUTH worker Kev Whitehorn is looking forward to using his new van, bought with money raised by the Gazette's Kev's Van Appeal.

The appeal raised £9,889.86 in eight months and Mr Whitehorn's employers Youth Action Wiltshire (YAW) have just bought a nearly-new van.

The For Transit ex-demonstrator has just 1,500 miles on the clock and has the added bonus of five seats and two side loading doors.

It has power steering and air conditioning - unlike Mr Whitehorn's old van.

The Gazette launched the appeal to buy Mr Whitehorn a new van as YAW did not have the funds.

YAW, a Devizes-based charity, supports more than 80 voluntary youth clubs in Wiltshire and Swindon and Mr Whitehorn needs a van to visit clubs several times a week to organise sporting and craft activities.

The previous vehicle, a former Royal Mail van, is 11 years old and has clocked up more than 100,000 miles.

Earlier in the year it failed its MOT, with the list of faults running to more than two pages.

The Gazette's appeal was brought to a successful conclusion with a grant of £4,500 from the Gannett Foundation, the charitable arm of the Gazette & Herald, last month.

Donations were also made by youth clubs, Gazette readers and businesses.

Keith Lye, who owns a garage in Melksham, bought the van for YAW at an auction in Nottingham for just under £10,000.

It will start being used next month once all the logos of the major donors have been put on.

Norry Goymer, chief executive of YAW, said: "It's a super van and will meet our needs. It's virtually new, it hardly has any miles on the clock.

"It has five seats compared to Kev's old van which has two seats and that means that we can take young people camping or on residential trips.

"We can fold the seats forwards as well if we need to carry extra equipment and having two side loading doors is great.

"The heater on Kev's old van doesn't work and blows out smoke.

Now Kev will have confidence that his vehicle will actually get him to the youth clubs he visits without the worry that it will break down."

Mr Goymer added: "I would like to say a big thank you to the Gazette & Herald for running the appeal for us and to all the people who have donated money. We are so grateful."

10:17am Friday 28th December 2007

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