Feast of fun raises funds

FACE-PAINTING . . . Teacher Lonya Burns with pupils Jahan Uddin (left) and Alex Pokuta at Red Nose Day at the Oldham Academy North

FANCY cakes, fluffy pyjamas and fun-filled fundraising helped this year's Red Nose Day top £71m in charity cash.

Schools, colleges, businesses and workplaces across Oldham donned the famous red nose and held events including cake sales, non-uniform days and a wet sponge soaking to raise funds for projects across the UK and Africa. Pupils and teachers at Knowsley Primary School donned pyjamas and onesies and held a cake bake-off, while Crompton House science teacher Robert Fernandez had wet sponges thrown at him for the school charity fundraiser.

And £285 was raised by fitness fans attending a Sue Napier pilates class at Uppermill Civic Hall.

At Saddleworth School 40 pupils had a basketball shoot-out and amassed 11,300 baskets in under an hour to surpass their target of 10,000 successful shots. Ethan Forster, from Year 10, topped the charts with 691 baskets and with money still coming into school an estimated £300 will have been raised.

Pennine MSK Partnership also raised £300 with a cake sale.

On Friday night, a stellar cast of comedians, musicians and other celebrities including the reunited cast of hit film Love Actually took part in what was the charity's 16th Red Nose Day comedy extravaganza.

Charity co-founder and programme host Sir Lenny Henry paid tribute to those affected by the attack in Westminster on Wednesday.

He said: "Tonight is an opportunity to save lives, to reach out in the spirit of partnership and compassion. The money you give tonight will make things better for people with tough lives here at home and abroad and your generosity year after year proves how much more there is that unites us than divides us."

A total of £71, 308,475 was raised by the end of this year's Red Nose Day with donations still being accepted.

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