Dean Brady's beaming smile is a ray of sunshine on a winter's day - thanks to the generosity of thousands of our readers.

The Argus Appeal has raised a record-breaking £125,000, making dreams come true for six-year-old Dean and dozens of others.

The total will be even higher once the proceeds from recent events, including a carol concert and annual Christmas grotto, are included.

Your money has helped to pay for a huge variety of projects and will ensure a merrier Christmas for hundreds of deserving people.

Disabled Dean, who has cerebral palsy, yesterday discovered he is to receive his dream Christmas present of a new custom-built wheelchair costingalmost £4,000, courtesy of the appeal.

His big sister Lisa, 14, wrote to us to tell us why he deserved a treat, after raising almost £5,000 for other people.

Dean's mother Sally, of Kingsland Close, Shoreham, said: "I knew nothing about this. It was a lovely surprise to hear what Lisa had done but we're a very close family and love Dean more than anything.

"He has longed for this chair. He sees it as part of him. To him it is his legs. A huge thank you."

Appeal co-ordinator Elsa Gillio and her team are celebrating the news they have smashed last year's total of £85,000 - itself a record-breaking sum.

This helped pay for four charity minibuses, with a fifth on the way, as well as many other items for worthy recipients.

Every year The Argus Appeal receives hundreds of requests for food parcels and vouchers.

Not all can be answered but in recent weeks 1,200 gifts have been sent to needy folk across Sussex to help make their Christmas even more special.

Many more have received donations from the fund throughout the year.

The largest share of the year's proceeds went on the buses, which were gratefully received by Hove YMCA, the Hove Society for the Disabled and the Grace Eyre Foundation.

The fourth, the Gingerbread Bus, is available to all registered charities in the area through Budget Rentacar on 01273 572000.

Other recipients in 2002 included Kieran Smith, who was presented with a potentially life-saving portable nebuliser in July.

The plucky boy, who was then 18 months old, suffers from chronic asthma.

His mum Sally, of Peveril Close, Sompting, said: "Before, I felt on edge when we were out, in case Kieran's asthma was bad. I had to watch him all the time.

"The nebuliser definitely makes life easier.

"They cost about £130 and I would not have been able to afford it without the appeal."

The Early Birth Association turned a £500 donation into thousands by buying a television and raffling it.

The proceeds went towards an incubator at the Trevor Mann Baby Unit at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

Meanwhile, the Sussex Active Blind Club enjoyed a night of fun and fine food at the Cock Inn at Ringmer, thanks to donations.

And spina bifida sufferer Peter Moore was given a new bed.

He said he was "ecstatic" after being nominated by his mum Lorraine as he had not enjoyed a decent night's sleep in years.

Deprived children who attend the Old Boat Community Centre in Hollingbury, Brighton, received £680 to enjoy an activity week at Knoles Tooth Children's Centre at Hurstpierpoint.

One of the latest beneficiaries was 16-month-old Jake Akehurst, who was born with cerebral palsy and haemophilia.

His mum Roslyn, of Old Shoreham Road, Hove, was told he might never walk.

But the appeal paid for a physiotherapy ball to help him build up his muscles and Roslyn is continuing to save to take him to a special institute in Budapest.

Roslyn said: "I would like to say thanks to everyone who wrote me lovely letters and gave donations.

"It means so much to know people care."

Mark Sutton, finance director of The Argus, said: "This is another record-breaking year, made possible through the support and generosity of the people of Sussex.

"The highlights have been the minibuses, which were driven really by last year's grotto and fund-raising."

The appeal's major backer was Legal and General, which donated more than £40,000 through sponsoring events and the Christmas grotto and by paying the VAT on the Gingerbread Bus.

Other firms also contributed vital sums to the 45th annual appeal, including the Rendezvous Casino at Brighton Marina.

Fund-raising will begin again in earnest in the new year with Holiday On Ice.

Ms Gillio said: "On January 9, there is an opening night benefit with tickets costing £5 and £2 going to the appeal.

"We have lots of other things to look forward to. It has been an exceptional year but we hope to do even more next year."