Pumping for Pudsey (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Pumping for Pudsey

3:20pm Tuesday 18th November 2008 in News By Adam Burling

FROM juggling to back waxing, a variety of activities took place last week to raise cash for BBC Children in Need.

Builders at O’Neill Concrete Pumping donated their fee for a day’s work in Bewdley, giving £967.25 to the charity.

Mark Brennand, who works for the company, said: “The equipment was covered in Pudsey decorations and the workers wore Children in Need t-shirts. We were glad to do something to help.”

Staff at The Range, Crossley Retail Park, Kidderminster, raised more than £700 when they donned fancy dress.

Tabatha Robbins, who works in customer services, said: “We all looked a bit daft but it was good fun. We had 1960s outfits, army uniforms and the staff in the textiles department wore their pyjamas.” Member of staff, Craig Jones, volunteered to have his hairy back waxed, with donations totalling nearly £200.

Drivers stopping for petrol at Habberley Service Station, in Franche Road, gave a total of £560 to have their tanks filled in person by members of staff dressed as pirates.

Store manager, Lynn Deakin, said: “We wanted to do something a bit different. The customers were all great and I think they enjoyed being served by pirates.”

About 20 members of staff and youngsters at a Kidderminster games shop juggled constantly for 12 hours and raised £390 for their efforts.

Peter Cooper, who owns the Barrel of Fun shop in Burcher Green, said the success of the event had inspired him to do more fundraising in the future.

He added: “It was a brilliant day and plenty of youngsters came along and joined in. Some were learning to juggle for the first time and it was great fun.”

A concert staged in Kidderminster Town Hall by the Fellowship Seventh Day Adventist Church raised £2400.

Steve Winnitt, one of the organisers, said: “We are so grateful to the people of Kidderminster. Many friends and people from all denominations of churches helped to make the evening such a huge success.”

A DVD and CD of the concert will soon be available from www.kidderminster nights.org.uk and the proceeds will be added to the charity fund.

A karate group in Kidderminster is holding a competition on Sunday, with all entrance fees going to Children in Need.

The Young Gloves group is staging the contest at King Charles I School, having raised £2,000 through a similar event last year.