Local Celebs Wear Pyjamas For Comic Relief

Chiswick gears up for Red Nose Day with host of fundraising activities

From local celebrities wearing glamorous pyjamas to schoolchildren singing in supermarkets, Chiswick has geared up for Red Nose Day, the annual Comic Relief fundraising day. (Friday, March 15th).

Singer Sophie Ellis Bextor took part in a 'wear your pyjamas to work' fundraiser. She donned navy silk loungewear as she works on recording her latest album. The mother-of -three, who lives in Chiswick, is taking a break from touring.

Well-known actress Imogen Stubbs also posed wearing pyjamas and blowing Red Nose bubbles to raise sponsorship for Comic Relief. But there was no dodgy flannel in evidence. The 'pyjamas' fundraising using local celebrities was the brainchild of Sheena Abbot Davies, founder of luxury loungewear label, Dote London, who has a pop up shop in Devonshire Road and who provided the outfits.

10% of sales at the Dote pop up shop at 8 Devonshire Road, Chiswick will be donated to Comic Relief. And for all customers you can pop into the store this week and mention Red Nose Day to receive 20% off.

As schools throughout Chiswick begin organising their events, the local 8th Acton ( St Peters) proved they were up for a challenge by backing Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton’s bid to set a new world record while raising vital funds for Comic Relief.

The fundraising wonder woman has set herself seven magnificent challenges which she has vowed to complete in only seven weeks – and she offered Girlguiding members a unique chance to lend a hand. The local girls were among thousands of groups invited to come up with their own fundraising events – the wackier the better - to back the daredevil presenter’s campaign in the run-up to Red Nose Day. The group of 10 local girls, all aged between 10 and 17, chose to sing in fancy dress at Sainsbury’s.

Girlguiding groups nationwide have also been hard at work crafting their own giant fabric triangles to help create the world’s largest bunting line, which Helen – a former Brownie herself - displayed along the 2,200-metre Humber Bridge as one of her Magnificent 7.

Chloe (17) said: “When we heard about Helen’s Challenge we all wanted to help her set the new world record and to raise as much as we could for Comic Relief.”

Bridgette Brown, Unit Leader said : “ Not only did the girls raise more than £263 they worked very hard and rose to the challenge. It shows what a difference girls in guiding can make.”

For more information on guiding both nationally and locally, log on to www.girlguiding.org.uk.

On Red Nose day Councillors Ruth Cadbury and Sue Sampson raised £406 for Comic Relief at a rush hour road "toll"  in Isleworth.  In their slippers and dressing gowns the two Councillors collected funds from drivers slowing down at the width restriction in Church Street. They were joined by 'Elvis', and local residents including Katherine Dunne.

"We would like to to thank all the drivers who put their change in our mop buckets" said Cllr Ruth Cadbury. "Comic Relief funds many projects that support children living in poverty in the UK and in Africa, and every penny helps".

"It was great fun shaking the buckets and dressing up" said Cllr Sue Sampson.  She added  "We really appreciated the practical support from the charity Cathja, who made the "Red Nose" toll sign in their barge workshop, and by the team at the London Apprentice who generously provided breakfast."

Send your photos of local fundraising events to us- editor@chiswickW4.com

March 15, 2013