THE Daily Echo-backed Carbon Stoppers Appeal has marked a milestone with an extra special donation to benefit young people.

The appeal, run by Yellow Buses, handed over its 50th donation when it presented a cheque to Pete and Linda Thornton of the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation (JTYAF).

The total donated to good causes under the scheme since 2008 now stands at more than £12,000.

JTYAF was set up in 2008 to honour the memory of John Thornton, a young Royal Marine from Ferndown, who died aged 22 while serving in Afghanistan.

It gives scholarships and bursaries to help local young people reach their potential.

His mum Linda said she was ‘thrilled to bits’ with the donation from Carbon Stoppers.

“It’s going to make such a difference to us and to people locally,” she said.

She said the money would send three girls on an expedition to the Quantocks as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award.

Two young people would go canoeing on the River Wye and a Guide would go to County Camp near Dorchester.

“It’s going to do a lot of good locally for young people,” she said.

Each week, Yellow Buses holds a ‘Thank You Thursday’ when every trip taken contributes to a community chest. The company has pledged a minimum of £50 a week to the Carbon Stoppers fund, with Daily Echo readers invited to nominate worthy recipients.

Jenni Wilkinson, Yellow Buses’ head of marketing, said: “I’m very proud of what has been achieved and thank our wonderful passengers, as well as the Daily Echo.”