IT has been an eventful 12 months for our 2013 charity of the year.

The 20 year anniversary of 12-year-old Tim Parry and three-year-old Johnathan Ball’s tragic deaths after an IRA bomb blast was marked in March with a number of poignant events in the town centre and at the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace’s base in Great Sankey.

A children’s book was also published explaining the tragic events on Bridge Street to future generations while Tim’s mum Wendy was awarded an OBE for her tireless work in memory of the two boys and Colin and Wendy were handed the Warrington Guardian Inspiration Award.

Throughout that time Warrington Guardian readers have held a variety of fundraising events to support the cause’s work helping victims of conflict and terrorism.

Businessman Peter Gilberts hopes his fundraising walk will become an annual event after raising more than £1,500 with representatives from businesses joining in on the route shaped like the Peace Centre’s dove logo.

Like many schools and community groups across the town, the Warrington Guardian team also got involved holding a cake sale in the office as part of the charity’s Peace of Cake campaign.

Charity bag-packing in supermarkets, fashion shows, golf days, a tennisathon and Christmas fair have also all taken place to ensure the Peace Centre continue with their unique work which this year has helped 1,549 people adding to a running total of 22,650.

Chief executive Nick Taylor added: “The engagement from the public and stakeholders such as politicians and the media has been magnificent throughout the year.

“We would like to thank everybody who has supported us in 2013 and as I have been told one of the top New Year’s resolutions is charity volunteering, we would love to hear from anyone with time on their hands.

“We hope 2014 will be peaceful and prosperous but in reality will continue to need our work to prevent, resolve and respond to violent conflict.”