We had so much fun raising money for Children in Need (From Worcester News)

We had so much fun raising money for Children in Need

11:20am Saturday 21st November 2009

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CHEST waxings, walks and pyjama parties were just some of the ways people clowned around to raise money for disadvantaged children yesterday (Fri).

The events were all for Children in Need, the charity which raises money for youngsters around the UK.

In Worcester, Pudsey bear, the charity’s yellow mascot, was spotted in several places including at the CrownGate shopping centre.

The bear danced and waved to passersby alongside musicians who were playing as part of BBC Hereford and Worcester’s Bentham’s Buskers.

Howard Bentham, one of the station’s breakfast presenters, sang along with buskers Miranda Gallimore, Kelvin Green, Tom Ashcroft and Richard Elliott.

A crowd gathered to clap, cheer, dance along and throw money in buckets.

One onlooker Barbara Coombes, of Callow End, said: “I made a special point of coming because I listened to the radio and I thought I may as well come in and give them a contribution.

“It’s good because it supports local charities.”

Theo Parsons, aged two, from Hartlebury danced to the music while mum Janine said: “We just happened to be shopping but I thought there might be something going on for Children in Need.

“It’s wonderful music.”

Also in the city centre was Kye Carter who was dressed in a jewelled lycra suit and sporting the make-up made popular by American band Kiss.

He said he and his colleagues from Debenhams had set up chest and leg waxings as part of Children In Need.

He said: “I’ve had my chest waxed. It hurt a bit but we’ve raised around £300 so far.”

Worcester College of Technology students Emily Hopkins, 16, and Fiona Bullock, 17, were also there and had dressed up to join in the celebrations.

Miss Hopkins said: “We’ve been going round collecting money from the college and some of our friends as well.

“We’ve got a big Pudsey cake made by one of the tutors and we are having a raffle to see who wins it.”

Pudsey was also elsewhere in the city, including at rehearsals for Sleeping Beauty, this year’s Kays Panto.

The cast, members of Kays Theatre group, handed over a cheque for £500 to the bear raised from the proceeds of last year’s show.

Workers from William Hill in Sidbury held a Pudsey party with Dave Tipping and Darren Fairbrother also having their chests waxed.

Youngsters joined in the fun including those at St Mary's Early Years Department who wore dots on their clothes and faces.

They also held a Pudsey cake and biscuit sale and took part in Pudsey games to raise more than £100.

Pupils from Regency High School in Carnforth Drive, Warndon, raised £545 through sponsored walks, jogs, swims and aerobics.

While pupils from St Clements CE Primary in Henwick Road, St John’s, wore spotty clothes and painted their faces to raise £230.

Everyone at Magic Moments private day nursery in Kempsey wore their pyjamas and baked cakes to sell.

Deputy manager Jolene Schoolcraft said: “All the children loved baking the cakes. They all had a taste and it got very messy.

“They could choose their own toppings - they absolutely loved it and we’ve raised £35 so far.”

Staff and children at Wishing Well Nursery, in Bilford Road, also raised £20 by spending the day in their pyjamas.

The staff at Dorset House in Droitwich donned pyjamas too with Melanie Eastwood and Violet Brooke collecting from people in the town.

Last Saturday, year 10 Bishop Perowne CE College students Georgia Bullock, Annabel Parker and Amber Perry, dressed in their pyjamas to climb the Malvern Hills and raised more than £150.

There’s still more to come with a bowling event to raise money for the charity planned at Worcester Bowl at 7.30pm on Friday, November 27.

Teams of six bowlers will fight it out before enjoying a basket meal, live DJ and raffle at the Bromyard Road centre.

Bowlers pay £15 each and a team must pay a £30 deposit to secure a place.

More information is available by calling 01905 420425.

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