Guardian readers give average £53 to Christmas appeal

The Guardian newspaper today reports that its readers have given an average of £53 each in the first two weeks of its Christmas appeal on behalf of WaterAid and Fairbridge.

The £53 average is about £3 higher than at the same stage of the appeal in 2001, according to Guardian Editor Alan Rusbridger.

The highest individual donation so far has been £3,000, split evenly between each charity.

The Guardian Christmas Appeal will run for a further three weeks. Donations are accepted online, by phone or by post, and include the option to make donations by Gift Aid. Donations are by default split equally between the charities, but donors can opt to channel their donation to one or the other charity.

Last year's appeal income peaked in the week before Christmas.