A TEACHING assistant from Kidderminster has been embarking on pub crawls around Wyre Forest, all in the name of charity.

Julie Hardiman, 43 a forest school leader at Sutton Park Community Primary School trawled pubs and bars in Kidderminster and Bewdley, with friends Debbie Vaughan and Katharina Nischikto, to raise money for Children with Leukaemia (CWL).

She said she chose the charity after her nephew Danny Pennell, of Stourport, was diagnosed with Leukaemia at the age of 4 and is now a healthy 12-year-old.

On Saturday, December 4, the group raised £242.70 from collections at pubs in Kidderminster including the Red Man, Ye Olde Seven Stars, Penny Blacks, the Boars Head, the Swan, Carters Bar, the Corn Exchange and NuBar.

A further £325.50 was donated in Bewdley on Saturday, December 11 by drinkers at the Wagon and Horses, Black Boy, Hop Pole, Mug House, Cock and Magpie, Angel, George, Horn and Trumpet, Swan, Pack Horse and Talbot.

Mrs Hardiman said: “The response from people was fantastic. That is a total of £568.20 donated by the people drinking in Kidderminster and Bewdley and all it took us was 6 hours of our time. Local people have been so generous.”

It is not the first time Mrs Hardiman has fundraised for the charity, in September she ran the Great North Run and has also completed the London Marathon.

She said: “Having been a keen runner for a number of years I had this burning ambition to run the London Marathon and was awarded a ballot place for 2010. I swore I wouldnt run 26.2 miles for less than £1,000 and I ended up raising £5,262.66.”

She added: “Although I was chuffed to reach the finish line and receive my medal the fundraising became more important to me and have decided to remain an active fundraiser for CWL and will do different events to raise funds.

“I will do half marathons throughout 2011 to keep myself fit and all being well I want to cycle London to Paris in 2012 for CWL.”

Mrs Hardiman has also been running around to get the community involved. Beavers at Kidderminster 15th Scout Group raised £133. She has also held a Body Shop party, Christmas fair stall and hopes to get a local band to host a charity gig in the New Year.