Fundraisers help set a Red Nose record (From Daily Echo)

Hampshire fundraisers help raise a £75.1m Red Nose record

9:30am Saturday 16th March 2013 in News By Rebecca Pearson, Reporter

Children from Bartley Junior School get in the red nose spirit.

THE South went Red Nose crazy yesterday – and contributed to a record on-the night total of £75.1m.

Hampshire fundraisers rose to the challenge to do something funny for money in aid of Comic Relief.

The money will go to provide shelter to young people on the streets and support people suffering from domestic abuse in the UK, while also supporting people in Africa.

Among the people taking part were the teaching staff at Bartley Junior School who took part in their own Ready Steady Cook competition.

Rupert Bazeley-White, manager for Hampshire County Council’s catering services HC3S, supervised as the children, who were all dressed as superheroes, held up coloured cards to vote for their favourite team.

HC3S also supported the event by lending the school the cooking equipment and ingredients.

Southampton Football Club’s mascot, Sammy the Saint also visited the school and challenged children to score goals as he acted as goalkeeper.

Some people chose to raise money by doing dance craze, the Harlem Shake, including 500 students at Bitterne Park Secondary School and Sixth Form and staff and children at Gambados in the Swan Centre, Eastleigh.

Others raised money by shaving their heads, like Michelle Hammond from Southampton-based freight company, Toll Global, and Jack Kailus from the Three Bears Play Cafe in Woolston.

Staff at Samson’s Gym in Eastleigh raised hundreds by completing an indoor triathlon and Shape Up Studios in Lymington took to the exercise bikes for a spinathon.

Meanwhile, 11-year-old Isaac Greaves from Warsash created a Lego stop-animation movie and raised more than £800.

In the Winchester area, several schools staged their own version of the Great British Bake Off, with staff and children competing to create the tastiest cakes.

The competitions then turned into cake sales as the treats were sold off to raise money.

Meanwhile care homes got involved with staff dressing up in silly costumes and some unfortunate staff at Middle Brook Street Sainsbury’s endured public humiliation as their hair was shaved off outside the shop entrance.