A FORTH VALLEY cancer support centre has been chosen as the nominated charity for a Facebook group which has gone global.

Maggie's Forth Valley has been chosen to be Worldwide Santa's Xmas Eve Jingle's charity this Christmas.

The group, set up by Lauren Sinclair and Terri Niven from Carronshore, started in October as a way to spread festive cheer.

After such a tough year they wanted to create a special memory for children in and around Forth Valley by asking families to stand outside their house at 6pm and ring a bell for two minutes to spread festive cheer and help power Santa's sleigh.

The group now has more than 150,000 members on Facebook and now singer Dionne Hickey has decided to donate all the downloads and royalty income from her Christmas song Won't You be Mine for Christmas on December 1 to Maggie's Forth Valley.

Cristina Pouso, Maggie's Forth Valley's fundraising manager, said: "We are so excited to be supported by Worldwide Santa's Xmas Eve Jingle and Dionne Hickey this year.

"Our Elf Family Fun Run is a key event for us so it's obvious that we like all things Christmassy.

"Being part of a group that is spreading so much festive cheer during these difficult times is so inspiring and it's great to be involved in something so positive during these difficult times."

Lauren Sinclair added: "Both Terri and I never thought our idea to spread some festive cheer in our community in Forth Valley would spread across the globe; it has been an amazing experience and so positive.

"When we first spoke to Dionne about supporting Maggie's Forth Valley it felt like the right thing to do.

"The centre is so beautiful and peaceful and we know how helpful it is for anyone with cancer to have somewhere like that to go.

"We want to do our bit to help raise awareness and money so they can continue to help people with cancer."

Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/worldwidexmasjingleanddionnehickey to make a donation or download Won't You be Mine for Christmas from December 1 on iTunes or Amazon.

To find out more about Maggie's Forth Valley contact 01324 868078.