Broadcasting live from Drusillas Park, BBC Children in Need took place on Friday 20th November, raising a massive £1,053,287 from the South East region.
On the night, Pudsey Bear was joined at the award winning zoo by singer Ben Adams (A1, Celebrity Big Brother) and South East Today presenter Caroline Feraday, together with a host of fundraisers from across the region. BBC Sussex’s Danny Pike also attended the party along with Radio 2 newsreader, John Marsh.
During the evening, Drusillas Park’s Managing Directors, Laurence and Christine Smith took the opportunity to present a large cheque to the charity for the sum of £3,500. This amount was achieved from various fundraising initiatives, including the sale of specially designed badges, key rings and face painting. The Zoo’s Directors and Managers also agreed to complete a number of Wacky Work Pledges, undertaking a range of gruelling tasks from mucking out the pigs to driving the Thomas & Friends™ train.
Managing Director, Christine Smith commented: “The Wacky Work Pledges were hard going but we are delighted to have raised such a large sum of money for the charity. It was a real honour to be selected by the BBC to host the South East broadcast at Drusillas and help support such a worthwhile cause. The evening was a huge success and a great deal of fun.”
This year’s 30th annual television broadcast raised a staggering £20,309,747 nationwide for the BBC Children in Need Appeal. The money will be used by the charity to make positive changes to the lives of thousands of disadvantaged children and young people living across the UK.
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For more information please contact:
Claire Peters
Head of Public Relations
Drusillas Park
Tel: 01323 874112 Fax: 01323 874101
Email: claire.peters@drusillas.co.uk
About Drusillas Park
Drusillas Park in Alfriston, East Sussex is a small zoo where you can get nose to nose with nature. There are over 100 animal species in naturalistic environments including meerkats, penguins, monkeys, otters, bats, snakes and lemurs. For more information visit www.drusillas.co.uk
Directions – Drusillas (postcode BN26 5QS) is situated just off the A27 at Alfriston, approximately 7 miles from Eastbourne and 15 miles from Brighton.
BBC Children in Need
The BBC Children in Need Appeal is a charity registered in England and Wales (802052) and Scotland (SC039557) whose aim is to make a positive change to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.
Every year, thanks to public donations and the amazing efforts of fundraisers, schools, businesses and corporate partners, BBC Children in Need is able to make a difference to thousands of young lives.
To support this year’s appeal or donate money please call 03457 33 22 33. For more information visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey