CHRISTMAS for many people is strictly not to be mentioned before Bonfire Night, but for Oxfordshire’s most festive fundraiser, the countdown is already on.

This past weekend Courtney Hughes, from Didcot, firmly adorned her Santa’s hat and readied her sack to start the collection of thousands of presents that will be handed out to vulnerable people over Christmas.

It is the ninth Christmas since the 21-year-old launched her Secret Santa appeal, in a year that has seen her gain royal recognition for her efforts, in the form of a British Empire Medal in the Queen's birthday honours list.

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Once again Ms Hughes, supported by her family, five official charity helpers and a 20-strong team of volunteers, has turned the cogs and started up the well-oiled machine of collecting that will continue up to and throughout the festive season.

More than 30,000 gifts have been handed out to the elderly and vulnerable under Ms Hughes's watchful eye and yesterday the charity – now rebranded Secret Santa 365 – officially launched the 2019 campaign.

She said: “We launch [the appeal] on September 1 every year so everyone in the community, including companies and schools, knows we are now starting to collect toys and boxes, and sort the drop-off points for presents right through to Christmas.

“Donations usually start coming in quite quickly, so then we have to sort donations, pack and arrange drop-offs. It takes a lot, which is why we start in September.”

The fundraising tradition has been something Ms Hughes, who is a full-time senior nursing assistant at the John Radcliffe hospital, has dedicated her life to, having been inspired at age 13 by her great-grandmother’s hospital stay.

People are urged to support the charity’s efforts and get involved in the collections, storage and distributions across Oxfordshire.

In the many years Ms Hughes has saddled up the sleigh, she has delivered more than 50,000 presents worth a staggering £250,000 to local charities, hospitals, care homes, foodbanks and homeless outreach projects.

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Jumping in to support early on this year is five-year-old Charlie Adams, who used his own birthday money to buy presents to give to poorly children.

The generous youngster recently handed over the donations at Hagbourne Church of England Primary School, and has been named the charity's young ambassador.

Ms Hughes added: “Our motto has always been about ‘the gift of giving’.

“No matter what it is whether it is just a Christmas card that will make someone smile, it is about the gift of giving.

“It is lovely [to launch again] - the appeal has become like a child to me.”

This year’s launch comes as the former Didcot Girls’ School student took her charitable efforts abroad for the first time.

Ms Hughes oversaw the launch from afar this year as she embarks on a three-week trip to volunteer in Vietnam with her partner Pedro Simas.

The pair jetted off on Saturday to help at a rural school, while delivering a school supplies for the coming weeks.

Ms Hughes is also celebrating being shortlisted for the National Diversity Awards, which will be held this month in Liverpool.

From 28,000 nominations, she was listed for the positive role model category.

She said: “Being able to support people of all ages is such a wonderful thing to be able to do, from the tiniest of babies to our older friends in their 100s.

“The gift of giving is shared equally and each gift is given with love, to be shortlisted amongst many inspiring people is a huge compliment."

To help with the appeal go to secretsanta365.org.uk or message the charity on facebook.co.uk