Guardian and Observer charity appeal raises more than £250,000

More than £250,000 for charities supporting families hit by war and violence in Gaza, Ukraine and elsewhere has been raised by Guardian and Observer readers less than a week after the appeal launched.

The milestone was achieved before the annual fundraising telethon on Saturday 14 December. Journalists who will be on hand to take donations over the phone include Polly Toynbee, John Crace, Marina Hyde and Zoe Williams.

The Guardian and Observer are raising money for three charities. War Child and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) are international aid charities which provide frontline emergency medical care and specialist psychological support to the victims of war.

The third is Parallel Histories, a UK-based charity with a mission to bring divided communities together by helping schools teach sensitive and contested histories of conflict, from Northern Ireland to Israel-Palestine.

Helen Pattinson, the chief executive of War Child UK, said: “Everyone at War Child is bowled over by the support we’ve seen from the Guardian, Observer and their readers with this year’s appeal. To have reached the £250,000 milestone already sends a clear message that the public stands with us in our mission to provide brighter futures for children caught in conflict, and we couldn’t be more grateful.”

Natalie Roberts, the executive director of MSF UK, said: “Thank you so much to the Guardian and Observer readers for your support. Your generous donations will help MSF teams act fast to provide life-saving and life-changing care to people in areas affected by conflict, natural disasters and epidemics.”

Saturday’s telethon takes place from 10am to 6pm. The number to call the telethon is 0203 353 4368. Other journalists on the rota to take calls include Peter Bradshaw, Jonathan Freedland, Gaby Hinsliff, Jess Cartner-Morley, Tim Dowling, Hugh Muir and Simon Hattenstone.

Introducing the appeal, the Guardian editor-in-chief, Katharine Viner, wrote: “We ask you to support the Guardian and Observer appeal in a spirit of optimism and defiance, as a signal of commitment to peace, human rights and social justice, and as a gesture of solidarity with the millions of people whose lives and livelihoods have been destroyed through war and violence.

“Perhaps, above all, it is a tribute of thanks to the extraordinary bravery of the frontline professionals in our partner aid charities who put their lives on the line, working in conditions of unimaginable stress to help the victims of conflict.”