A HAMPSHIRE charity is looking for votes to win £25,000.

The Rainbow Centre in Fareham, which supports people suffering from brain trauma and injury, is down to the last seven in a competition to win the grant from the Masonic Charitable Foundation.

The Masons are celebrating their 300th year with the Community Award Grant.

Rainbow Centre’s CEO Lara Bull, said “This is a wonderful opportunity for The Rainbow Centre. £25,000 to a charity our size is a huge amount of money– to put it into perspective it is enough to run either our entire MS or Stroke Service for a year or to pay for a children’s conductor-teacher.

“If we win the top amount, this gift could touch many lives.

“We are asking all our friends, families, supporters and anyone whose life has been touched by one of the five disabilities we support: cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, stroke or head injury to help us today – to help more people tomorrow and vote now. Please share news of the vote and help us to win.”

Mike Wilks, Grand Provincial Master from the Freemasons, said: “We are proud to support many charities across Hampshire but in this special 300th anniversary year we want to involve the public as well as our local Freemasons in deciding which of the nominated charities should benefit most.

“I urge everyone to visit the website and vote.”

The Rainbow Centre has been providing vital Conductive Education to children with cerebral palsy for 26 years and since 2007 has developed a service for adults with cerebral palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s and those recovering from stroke or head injury.

They are presently supporting 49 children and 49 adults from six months old to 70 plus with the service continually growing.

To vote visit to mcf.org.uk/vote, select the Hampshire & Isle of Wight region, scroll down to The Rainbow Centre and click to vote.

Other charities in the running include the Flutterby Fund and the University of Southampton’s Gift of Sight Appeal.