MODEL mum Jenny Richards is spear-heading an appeal to help suffering children across the world - including those in war-torn Afghanistan.

And it was the thought of her two-year-old daughter, Lacey, going hungry which spurred the 18-year-old Model Behaviour winner from Maesglas, Newport, to lend her support to World Vision's Orange-a-ppeal.

Jenny said: "I've got a child of my own and this appeal is about children. "This appeal helps children in more than 90 countries - Afghanistan, where obviously there's a war on at the moment, Kenya, where they send children out to fight with guns at the age of five, and Bosnia, where they're just recovering from years of fighting.

"I feel quite strongly about it because the thought of Lacey being hungry and homeless and cold is unbearable.

"Not eating for 24 hours will encourage people to think about what it's like. It's just a really good thing to do."

Jenny was reunited with her fellow Model Behaviour finalists for the appeal. Jenny got together with Charmaine, Patricia, Elizabeth and Maisie, the girl she replaced as a finalist, to promote the appeal, which will take place on February 15 next year. The international relief and development charity highlights the plight of deprived and abused children across the world.

They say that globally,120 million children work full-time seven days a week, one million children work in the Asian sex trade and 300,000 child soldiers fight in civil wars. World Vision wants children across the UK not only to raise cash but to try to empathise with the plight of these children.

Among the suggestions are to collect money by holding a mock slave auction, to stay outside and be a refugee for a night, or to try a sponsored 24-hour fast. Anyone who just wants to collect money can base their plans on the orange theme for the day.

Campaign organiser Matt Wenham said: "Orange-a-ppeal is the chance for the UK's teenagers to help these kids to a more stable and substantial future by having fun doing something with an orange theme."

After being backed in 2001 by boy band 5ive and teen star Billie Piper, this year Jenny, and James Redmond, who plays Finn in early-evening soap Hollyoaks, are endorsing the event.

Anyone who wants an Orange-a-ppeal information pack should call 01908 841000 for more details.