Children who deserve a memorable Christmas are in line for an extra special festive season ? thanks to a massive cash donation from kind-hearted construction workers.

Builders working on the waterfront development off Pitts Bay Road, Hamilton, clubbed together on charity golf days and helped raise more than $10,000 for the Neverland Foundation.

The charity, formed in 1997, helps children in Bermuda who are HIV positive or have been orphaned by AIDS.

And the whopping donation left volunteers at the foundation shocked. Secretary Sylvia Ryan said: ?This is going to make it a perfect Christmas for a lot of these children.?

More than 50 workers at BCM McAlpine took part in the Brits vs. Canadians golf challenge, an idea launched soon after work started on the waterfront development in 1997.

Now, 21 tournaments down the line, the friendly sporting event has driven more and more workers to the fairways ? and helped raised more than $50,000 for various charities on the Island.

Mike Henri, of BCM McAlpine, who thanked all the sponsors who donated money, said: ?We are delighted to be able to give more money to the Neverland Foundation. It?s a fantastic cause.?

The foundation was formed in 1997 after co-chair Suzie Pewter gave birth to her son, Keaton. Close friend Linda Cox wanted to organise a pre-birth ?shower? party, but Suzie said she wanted the get-together to help children affected by HIV and AIDS.

Eight years later, the charity has mushroomed and is today in touch with 27 children and three adults. And because of the sensitive nature of their condition, it has assigned a ?Neverland name? to each person it helps to protect their privacy.

Working closely with the Department of Health, all proceeds raised by the foundation provide counselling, tutoring, holidays at special camps, cash for hobbies like ballet and music lessons, transport to medical appointments, back to school clothing ? and also Christmas gifts.

Secretary Sylvia Ryan said the charity normally shunned publicity, but decided to make an exception in this case due to the size of the donation. She said it was probably the largest the organisation had ever received.