Islanders inspire more than a quarter of south-west CiN total

MORE than a quarter of the total donated to the BBC's Children in Need Appeal in the south-west was raised by islanders. BBC Guernsey managing editor Rod Holmes said the local figure of £52,000 was 'staggering' and more money was still to come in. 'It's a real feather in Guernsey's cap for getting together such a community effort in one day,' he said. More than £203,000 was raised across the south-west cluster of stations of which BBC Guernsey is a part. 'People have shown amazing generosity,' said Mr Holmes. While the figure raised locally was not a record - a man once donated £1m. through BBC Guernsey - 2003 ranks as one of the best years so far. Mr Holmes praised his staff for their efforts in helping raise funds and the community in general, which he said had supported them all the way. A casino night at the studio complete with jazz band - and for which many donned a dinner jacket - attracted more than 200 people. One of the more wacky ways of raising money came from Martin Search, managing director of Ray & Scott jewellers on the Bridge, who was persuaded by his staff to undergo a full body wax. His efforts raised more than £1,600. 'Not knowing what a full body wax was. I agreed to do it,' he said. 'But after speaking to people, I wasn't so sure I wanted to. My stomach hurts the most, but apart from that I'm fine.' Mr Search said the women from his shop - Brenda Le Poidevin, Wendy Marshall and Becky Moore - had put all the effort in and he had been a lamb to the slaughter. 'A lot of our customers and business associates both on and off the island had given so generously,' he said 'None had refused. The whole thing was organised in two days and we owe them a big thank-you.' Rachel, of La Villette Hotel Health Club, carried out the waxing at her workplace free of charge. *Queux Patio Plants' 'Plant a Pot for Children in Need' event raised a total of £9,129. More than 2,000 people took part in a fun day at Queux on 8 November when a charity auction was held. The day raised £3,400 and the figure was boosted by the sale of the pots. The total includes £500 raised by Eldad pre-school at a scavenger hunt. Callum Murphy, a toddler at Eldad, raised £150 on his own. A total of 23 pre-schools and day nurseries were invited to paint a collage of their impressions of Children in Need for which prizes were awarded as follows: 1, Butterflies; 2, Kinder; 3, Smarties.