SIR, - How about making 2002 a year to remember by asking all your readers to take up Breakthrough Breast Cancer's £1,000 challenge?

They'd by in good company - many of Breakthrough's celebrity supporters have already raised £1,000 or more for Breakthrough's crucial research, including us.

This year is Breakthrough's tenth anniversary year. Ten years ago its dream was to establish the first centre in the UK dedicated to breast cancer research. Breakthrough's centre was opened by the Prince of Wales in 1999.

Teams of world-class scientists are now working hard looking into the reasons why breast cancer happens and how we can prevent it. To fund this very important research Breakthrough needs to raise more than £5 million every year.

This is where your readers can help. It doesn't matter how long it takes to raise £1,000. They can do it with friends, at work, at school. Once they sign up to become a Challenger, Breakthrough will send them lots of information and tips on how to raise money and organise events.

And for every £1,000 raised, Breakthrough's corporate partner, Kodak, will contribute an extra £100 up to a total of £100,000.

So please make that New Year's resolution now and call the Kodak/Breakthrough £1,000 Challenge hotline on 0207 557 6611. Thank you very much - and a Happy New Year to you all!

GABY ROSLIN

JANE HORROCKS

BARBARA WINDSOR

On behalf of Breakthrough

Breast Cancer

Hope in Bible

SIR, - Recent events have certainly brought home to us the evil and wickedness in the world.

Despite the efforts of many well-meaning people, it seems that many of the problems facing society are unsurmountable. Not only do was have the threat o war and terrorism, but also environmental destruction, rising crime and the break-up of family life.

It was reported, following the events of September 11, that there was a small religious revival, with church attendance and the sales of Bibles increasing. But I wonder whether this has continued - how often are those Bibles opened now that the initial fear has subsided?

There is no doubt the Bible is difficult to read, but it offers peace and comfort, and, above all, the hope for a future when all the problems of today will be solved. For several years I have used the 'Bible Companion', a set of Bible reading tables which enable me to read the entire Bible in a year.

I would be happy to send a copy, free of charge, to any of your readers who would like one, so that they might experience for themselves the joy, happiness and hope for the brighter future that the Bible offers.

RICHARD BENSON

40 York Road,

Hitchin,

Herts SG5 1XB.

Animal Aid

SIR, - I would just like to point out that the movement against vivisection has not in any way whatsoever been pushed forward or helped by the supposedly anti-'all animal cruelty' RSPCA.

While I fully agree that the RSPCA does an excellent job for stray and abused animals, it has constantly remained silent when it comes to condemning the cruel and barbaric practice of vivisection.

Should anyone wish to be donating to a true organisation which speaks out and participates in demonstrations, then may I suggest Animal Aid, which I have recently joined.

The director, Andrew Tylor, spoke out strongly this weekend at the Cambridge demonstration against Huntingdon Life Sciences, the Government and 'Lord' Sainsbury.

Animal Aid can be reached on 01732 364546 or www.animalaid.org.uk

They are against all types of animal cruelty.

mark richards

10 Webster Street,

Newcastle,

Staffs

ST5 1NX.

Animal Aid

SIR, - What wasted space and time used by our media regarding the Blair's baby, Leo, and the MMR vaccine.

Some years ago when whooping cough vaccine was in the news, we took notice of our GPs and were not the least bit interested in our MPs' children. It's another case of newspaper-generated irrelevance.

F Dickinson (Mr)

Larkfield Road

Rawdon.