Sunderland's Anton Ferdinand in sponsored silence

Nov 15 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

TALKATIVE Sunderland footballer Anton Ferdinand raised £2,000 for Children in Need with a sponsored silence.

Fellow players challenged the chatty defender to keep his mouth shut for a day, to raise cash for the charity.

And the former West Ham centre-back won his bet, raking in £2,000 from teammates and donating it to the BBC Children In Need appeal.

Ferdinand completed the sponsored silence the day before Sunderland’s game at Chelsea earlier this month.

He said: “It was one of the hardest things I have done. It was a lonely day because I do like to talk, but it was worth it.

“I was allowed to talk when we were training, when the ball was in play, but the banter was banned – I was not allowed to get involved.

“The boys kept ripping me, trying to get me to talk, but I managed not to.”

Ferdinand, who travels to Blackburn with the Sunderland squad for this afternoon’s Premier League game at Ewood Park, added: “The only way I could communicate was by texting people. It was a struggle, but it was for a great cause.”

Employees at Northumbrian Water in Durham pledged more than £3,000 to the charity as Newcastle Eagles basketball stars took the plunge to raise cash.

Aaron Nielsen stripped off and bathed in custard, while teammate Darius Defoe tipped custard over his head. The staff also held a charity shoot-out competition with the stars, while raffles were also taking place.

Elsewhere, Wearsiders pledged millions for the charity at Sunderland’s Aquatic Centre.

The event, called Pudsey's Party at the Pool, saw children from six schools take part in a raft of activities, including games such as beach ball relay, build a float, it's a goal and dress the teacher.

Outside, live music was performed by X Factor finalists Bad Lashes and other North East bands including Thornhill School rappers The Word, Mixit, The Buddhas, Sirens, Stormy Monday, jazz singer Zoe Gilby and a choir from Venerable Bede School.

A spectacular fireworks display also lit up the sky over Sunderland.

Yesterday, pupils at Thomas Hepburn Community School in Felling, Gateshead, released 999 purple balloons to mark a day of events.

The sixth annual event saw the entire school off timetable as they took part in five-a-side tournaments, craft workshops and DJ sessions.

An X-Factor-style competition was also held in which pupils sang or performed a talent in front of a panel of celebrity judges – the teachers.

Headteacher Malcolm Dawson said: “I am always astounded by the creative genius which brings all of the various activities together.

“Gail Jewers [one of the organisers] leads a staff of dedicated professionals who devote countless hours to preparing resources, scripting and filming scenes for our DVD, rearranging teaching commitments and other events.

“Children in Need Day at Thomas Hepburn will be one of the many traditions which I shall miss when I retire from the school at Christmas. I hope that this ‘jewel in the crown’ goes from strength to strength in the future.”