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Mersey Unites Eight-page celebration of the day we came together for city charities
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Tuesday, September 14, 2010
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Liverpool Unites
SHOWTIME: Cast members from the Royal Court Theatre's Our Day Out perform live in front of crowds outside the Metquarter in Whitechapel
ECHO and Radio City unite for fun-draising by TINA MILES and ROB PATTINSON Pictures by JAMES MALONEY
THE ECHO’s Liverpool Unites charity and Radio City’s Cash for Kids have smashed their fundraising target. We teamed up with the radio station for a 24-hour fundraising marathon in Liverpool to help underprivileged children on Merseyside. Generous people from across the region including famous faces from the worlds of sport, television and radio helped us raise more than £45,000. ECHO readers flooded phone lines to place bids for an impressive selection of auction items during the day-long event on Thursday. Celebrities and performers called into Cafe Sports England to support the city’s two children’s charities, while teams of chefs, policemen and firemen took part in a challenging 24-hour rowathon. One of the major highlights of the event was
a 24-hour lock-in at the city’s ECHO Wheel. Volunteers took to the streets to entice shoppers to take part in a raffle. Acts of all ages gave live performances next to the ECHO Wheel and on Whitechapel. ECHO editor Alastair Machray said: “As a paper that strives to promote the great work that is going on in our city, we are proud to work with Radio City to put on such a fantastic event to benefit the young people of Merseyside who need our help the most.
“Liverpool has a reputation for being an incredibly generous city and the fact that this event has surpassed the £45,000 mark goes to show just how big-hearted the people of Merseyside really are.” One of the more unusual attractions was a mobile jail near the wheel. The 18-tonne lorry allowed people to experience prison life. Manager Shaun Glanville, 41, said the CELLS Project gave a sense of the harsh reality of going down the wrong path. He said: “We have staff who are all ex-offenders, they share their real-life experiences and this has a genuine effect on the kids we see.” James Polhill, 21, from Kensington,
MOVES: Actress Pauline Daniels joins in to entertain crowds in Liverpool city centre
spent 18 months behind bars after becoming involved with gangs and football hooliganism. James, who is a volunteer, said: “Through CELLS I have learnt you can make a difference.”
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CENTRE STAGE: The Majorettes perform live outside the Metquarter in Whitechapel
SKY-HIGH: Paul Azzopardi helps increase funds during Liverpool’s charity day
Balloon taxi attracts kind fundraisers TAXI driver Paul Azzopardi has helped to raise thousands of pounds to take ill children or those in care on trips. Paul, who is chairman of the Children in Care Outing Fund, filled his cab full of colourful balloons during our charity event. One lucky person who could guess how many were in the cab had the chance to win an iPod. He said: “People were donating money that is so urgently needed. “Liverpool Unites and Cash for Kids are a big help to so many charities in the area.” LOCKED UP: ACC Liverpool staff put behind bars and the CELLS team FUNDRAISERS: St Julie's High School in Woolton took time out to raise money
THANK YOU
Costco Crowne Plaza Hillbark Hotel Adelphi Hotel Andrew Collinge Church farm, Thurstaston Catalyst Science
Discovery Centre The Beatles Story Deli Fonseca Underwater World Blue Planet Speedwell Cars Jury’s Inn Palm Sugar
Hallmark Jewellers, Heswall P & K Truck Centre DKW Autos, A & L Components Pontin’s Prestige Hair & Beauty
Rapunzels Max Spielmann Best Buys Land Rover Rubber Sole AFC Liverpool Aston & Fincher Millie’s Cookies
Barclaycard team man the phones at Radio City tower STAFF from Barclaycard manned the phones to take charity donations at Radio City Tower. Repayment advisor Melissa Dann, 27, said: “We had a couple of bidding wars, which was exciting. The prize to visit Liverpool’s Melwood
training ground had the phones off the hook.” Phones co-ordinator Bretta Adlen said: “I’ve done this for the last seven years, the cause is extremely worthy. It has been quite manic but we’ve got a good team up here and the time has flown by.”
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Tuesday, September 14, 2010
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Liverpool Unites
In a spin for cha by TINA MILES and CARRI-ANN TAYLOR Pictures: COLIN LANE and PAUL HEAPS BRAVE businesses, romantic couples and groups of friends came together for the 24-Hour ECHO Wheel of Liverpool Challenge. We invited our readers to sponsor a pod for the whole day to raise cash for Liverpool Unites and Cash for Kids. Organisers today said the event at the ECHO Wheel raised a staggering £15,000 towards the day’s total sum. Among those enjoying a ride were Dr Rizwan Alvi and his wife Shaheen, who celebrated their anniversary overlooking the city’s skyline. Some companies had meetings with clients 60 metres above the ground, while Morecrofts solicitors held a legal surgery. Others even boarded the ECHO Wheel with their sleeping bags and teddy bears for an overnight stint. One of the wheel’s 42 pods became a mini recording studio as a musician and his five friends set about writing a new song. Riders were entertained by Liverpool bands The 53s, The Piffle Brothers, the Majorettes and Team Oasis. Suzanne Deary, manager of Sthetix, said: “We sponsored one of the pods for the whole 24-hours and were really excited to be involved in raising money for such a great cause.” Staff from the Toby Carvery in Widnes rode the wheel in fancy dress, taking one hour shifts throughout the day and night. Chef Robert Colebrook, 21, added: “It was a great day and it was good to see so many people working together to raise money for the kids.” Colleagues from the Best Buy store in Aintree were in good voice, hoping their team chants would boost morale on the long night ahead. Ryan Stuart, 21, from the store said: “Best Buy donated a number of prizes to the ECHO’s taxi competition and as a new business in the area we are proud to get involved.” Emma Hayes, from the Cerebra charity, said: “We want to help families that have a child with a neurological condition, that could be something as simple as helping them have a day out together and Liverpool Unites and Cash for Kids have been a big help in that, so we are very grateful.”
BIG SMILE: Twelve hours in the
pod for Rachel Madeley
SUPPORT: Ryan Stuart, Chris Grundy and Victoria McLoughlin from Best Buy, Aintree (left); Suzanne Deary from Sthetix
LOVED UP: Dr Rizwan Alvi treats his wife Shaheen to a surprise ride on the ECHO Wheel for their anniversary
ENTERTAIN: The Piffle Brothers at the ECHO Wheel stage for the 24-hour fundraising marathon
WHEELY GREAT FUN: The 24-hour fundraiser gets under way
at the Liverpool ECHO Wheel
Well Louis Buy, Q More Liverp
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Tuesday, September 14, 2010
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done to everyone involved in the ECHO Wheel challenge: Toby Carvery, Mr Toasty’s, Andrew s, Smithies, Cream, Lime Pictures, Adelphi, Barclays, Sports Culture, Marriott, Big Wheel, Best Queensquare Car Park, Fire Brigade, CCC Group, The Homeless Games, Ashley Neal, ecrofts LLP, University of Chester, ACC Liverpool, Liverpool Hope University, Fostering Solutions, rpool ECHO, Isla Gladstone, Sthetix
FAMILY OUTING: Derrath Gidman with Holly and Derrath’s mum Betty Camm
DRESSED FOR FUN: Toby Carvery staff (L-R) Robert Colebrook, Brian Jones and Luke Newton; Emma Hayes of charity Cerebra
TEAM WORK: Jan Rankin, fundraiser for Cash For Kids, and Tom Woolley, corporate fundraising manager for Liverpool Unites
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Tuesday, September 14, 2010
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Liverpool Unites
Liverpool celebrities rally to the cause by TINA MILES Pictures by JAMES MALONEY
CELEBRITIES headed to a Liverpool city centre bar and restaurant to join in the fun with the ECHO and Radio City. DJ Rossie pitched up at Jamie Carragher’s Cafe Sports England for a full 24 hours. He auctioned off dozens of top prizes during a 24-hour broadcast of his breakfast show. The items brought in more than £20,000 for Liverpool Unites and Cash for Kids. Footballers including Reds captain Steven Gerrard called up the station to donate an England shirt and boots from last week’s game against Switzerland, which went for £1,600. Ex-Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez also contacted organisers to offer a squad-signed Inter Milan shirt, which raised £600. Rossie said: “The generosity of Liverpool is overwhelming. I can’t say I am surprised by it, but I never stop appreciating or being amazed by it.” Liverpool model Danielle Lloyd brought along her eight-week-old son Archie for her radio slot. She said: “It’s lovely to be back in Liverpool and support two fantastic causes. I do a lot for charity but it is extra special being able to help in my home town.” Boxer Paul Smith auctioned off VIP access to his British super-middleweight title defence against Darren McDermott at the ECHO arena on October 23. He said: “It’s a good cause. I’ve donated something for the past three years with my family and my manager, Frank Warren. “I know how important is it to support underprivileged kids, especially those in this area.” The tickets went for £1,150. Brother Steve, 25, who landed the Commonwealth featherweight title, added: “I’m here to show my support for a really deserving cause.” Hollyoaks actress Alex Fletcher said: “The city always pulls together, the people here do anything for a good cause, especially where the welfare of children is involved. "Everyone is doing their bit and it all adds up to make a difference.” Other activities in the bar included an exhausting day-long rowathon. The gruelling contest saw a group of Liverpool chefs go up against teams from Merseyside Police and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service. The fire brigade beat last year’s record by rowing 230 miles. The police faced serious competition from their opponents in the fire service team, which included Adam Peers, 41, who recently completed the Iron Man challenge. He said: “We are always up for a challenge, especially if it is for charity and against the police.” ● Additional reporting by Rob Pattinson, John Siddle and Carri-Ann Taylor
GUEST: Danielle Lloyd during the 24-hour breakfast show
CONTEST: Chefs (top, l-r): Guy Lawrenson, Rob Preston, Neil Dempsey and Fernau Teixeira faced firemen (left) and police in a charity rowathon
LAUGHS: Pauline Daniels with Our Day Out colleague Mark Moraghan on the show
BROTHERS IN ARMS: Paul Smith, left, with Rossie and Stephen Smith, right
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Tuesday, September 14, 2010
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KIND: Brothers Alex, nine, and Lewis Scriven, six, donated their piggy bank cash
ON HAND: Granada Reports presenter Lucy Meacock helps Rossie with the auction
CHAT: ECHO editor Alastair Machray with co-host Jay Hynd PALS: Rossie and Rick Vaughan at Cafe Sports for the ECHO and Radio City 24-hour breakfast
PERFORMANCE: The Farm's Peter Hooton
LIVE: The Christians treated listeners to a set for charity
BROTHERLY LOVE: Anthony-Paul, left, and James Lunt, who bid against each other for prize boot
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Tuesday, September 14, 2010
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Liverpool Unites WHEEL BE BACK: Derrath Gidman and mum Betty Camm with Holly, three, who took part in the ECHO Wheel challenge
LIVERPOOL UNITES: WHAT IT IS AND HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED LIVERPOOL Unites is the official charity of the Liverpool ECHO. The charity, set up after the murder of Liverpool schoolboy Rhys Jones in August 2007, fundraises to distribute cash grants to other charities and community groups on Merseyside. Liverpool Unites helps those people and groups that positively engage children and teenagers.
Our charity aims to steer these young people away from a life of crime and violence so the Rhys Jones tragedy will not be repeated. The Liverpool Unites Awards recently gave out thousands of pounds in grants to different charities and community groups. The money allowed children who do not normally get the opportunity to go on holiday to
have trips away during the school holidays, paid for new football kits and bought new equipment for youth groups. More information at www.liverpoolunites.co.uk If you would like to make a donation, please send a cheque, made payable to Liverpool Unites, to Liverpool Unites, Liverpool ECHO and Daily Post, PO Box 48, Old Hall St, Liverpool, L69 3EB.