PUDSEY Bear brought smiles to faces young and old when he visited Weymouth ahead of Children in Need.
Fundraiser Esther Sheppard organised a two-day extravaganza of events in aid of the charity which helps children at home and abroad.
The famous bear came a little early, as he will be busy in London on Children in Need this Friday (13).
Along with Esther, he visited residents of Highclere House care home in Cross Street, Weymouth. Children from the nearby Beechcroft St Paul’s primary school were also invited, and enjoyed cakes, a magician and face painting.
Over the weekend, Pudsey and Esther took sweets to children on the Kingfisher Ward at Dorset County Hospital and visited children’s birthday parties at Sharky’s and the Fun Factory.
Esther, a homes admissions advisor at Gracewell, which runs Highclere House, said: “I raise money for Children in Need every year, it is a charity that is very close to my heart.
“Everyone got involved and had fun at these events, some of our elderly residents had their faces painted and were really enjoying it.
“But the icing on the cake was taking the sweets to the Kingfisher Ward. The look on their faces when we walked in with Pudsey was just incredible. They all got the chance to have their picture taken with Pudsey.”
With money still coming in, the total raised across the events is more than £300.
Esther added: “I love children and the work the charity does is so important.
“They help ill children but they also help for instance if a parent is disabled, they organise volunteers to take the children to the park or for an outing so they can enjoy their childhood.
“They have helped 450,000 children since being formed and I just wonder, if the charity wasn’t there, what would have happened to those children?”
Esther wanted to thank Tristan Campbell, who took on the role of Pudsey for the event.
Are you doing anything for Children in Need? Let us know by emailing newsdesk@dorsetecho.co.uk or calling 01305 830999.
CONTACT ME:
t: 01305 830978
e: rachel.stretton
@dorsetecho.co.uk
twitter: @DorsetEchoRach
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