Children in Need tops £40,000 locally

BBC GUERNSEY has praised the island's generosity after more than £40,000 was raised by local Children in Need initiatives. Armpit, chest and leg-wax victims, school children, businesses and generous nightclub customers all contributed. Healthspan expects to generate £200,000 nationwide from its mail-order customers.

'It's excellent,' said BBC Guernsey presenter John Randall yesterday in a croaking post-fund-raising voice.

'People on the island just love helping and they just love raising money.

'All the stops are pulled out and the team here has been exceptional. The cash-counters were here until 3.30am on Saturday.'

Fellow presenters Isla Blatchford and Jenny Kendall-Tobias took Children in Need mascot Pudsey Bear into Town on Saturday night and brought back £700.

'The clubbers dug deep into their pockets and flashed the cash.'

Mr Randall worked for much of the evening at a charity casino at the Rocquettes Hotel.

'Nearly 300 people were at the function at any one time. The gambling tables were buzzing. My throat now feels like the bottom of Ghandi's flip-flop.'

Mr Randall also suffered a charity leg and armpit waxing but got his own back on Carey Olsen advocate Stuart Wormsley by paying for him to have his bra-line waxed.

He thanked Calum Le Noury and the team at the Rocquettes, Pete and John, from the Whole Nine Yards, and Keith de Carteret for his exceptional performance on the crown and anchor.

Les Beaucamps School contributed £680 from fund-raising games including a 'mile' of pennies.

Norman Piette sales negotiator Alan McKenna raised more than £620 by having his chest waxed by trained beautician Alison Finnigan, of Natural Beauty. Staff and customers gathered to watch and cheer Mr McKenna as he crossed the pain barrier for charity. He also joined locals at the Britannia to have his back waxed. Collection buckets were on display at Norman Piette for anybody to make a donation.

The nationwide campaign was given a boost by Healthspan's mail-order customers.

From the beginning of September, they have been able to donate £1 to the cause from their usual refund of £2 for every £18 spent.

'They could have taken the money but they chose to donate to Children in Need,' said managing director Derek Coates. 'Our customers are the stars.'

By last Thursday, the company had raised £138,000 and was confident that it would reach £200,000 by the end of the month, when the scheme closes.