COUNTRY kids will be $7000 worse off with scores of stolen Christmas trees still not found after they went missing last week.
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Royal Far West's annual Christmas fundraisers are run to help keep country kids connected to the vital health care services they need, but this coming year funds will be a little bit harder to come by.
Northern beaches police launched an investigation after a truck driver, who advertised his services online, had agreed to pick up the trees and deliver them to the Manly charity but never arrived as organised on Thursday morning.
"We don't think we'll get them back and it's highly likely they're dead by now anyway," Royal Far West marketing, communication and fundraising's Danielle Chapman said.
"We'd hoped to raise $20,000 between the trees and the markets this year, but now we're looking at a $7000 gap."
While the charity has received a discounted rate on new trees from Spruced Christmas Trees, the overall funds they raise will still fall below target.
"Since the trees were stolen we've had some people donate the cost of a tree [$90] to help us out," Ms Chapman said.
- To make a donation to Royal Far West, visit www.royalfarwest.org.au
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