PUDSEY mania gripped King’s Ely as pupils of all ages – and staff – went the extra mile for Children in Need 2016.
A group of King’s Ely Junior (KEJ) pupils and staff were lucky enough to witness The One Show’s Rickshaw Challenge pass through Ely city centre on Thursday (November 17th) afternoon. Excited pupils and staff, many of whom were sporting spotty accessories, Pudsey bears and handmade Children in Need banners, joined members of the public outside St Mary’s Church and cheered on the rickshaw as it passed by. There were raucous cheers of support when the riders and The One Show presenter Matt Baker waved to the crowds. This year, the team of six young riders raised more than £1 million for Children in Need by covering 470 miles from Jedburgh to London.
Boys and girls of Saunders House at KEJ also raised more than £340 for the annual campaign by holding a scrumptious cake sale and all KEJ pupils were invited to wear spotty clothing and/or accessories for the day in return for a small donation, which raised a further £220.
At King’s Ely Acremont and Nursery (KEAN), children and staff certainly got into the fundraising swing of things too. Fun-filled activities in the nursery included a slumber party, where the children wore their pyjamas and dressing gowns for the day, and a bedtime story readathon. All KEAN pupils were also invited to wear spotty attire for the day. The total raised by KEAN was over £210.
On Friday evening, King’s Ely’s annual charity concert was also held at the Hayward Theatre. As ever, the musical extravaganza was a sell-out and more than 80 students took to the stage, including the school orchestra, concert band, jazz band, King’s Barbers, string orchestra, brass ensemble and percussion ensemble. All proceeds raised will go to Children in Need and the Ely Community Service Committee, which runs the Old Dispensary community centre in Ely.