Hairs to those who raise cash for Comic Relief

Mar 14 2009 by Joanne Butcher, The Journal

NEWCASTLE Falcons players bared all for Comic Relief yesterday. Joe McDonnell, Geoff Parling, Mark Sorenson, Carl Hayman and Ed Williamson all stripped down to get their legs and chests waxed at U Salon in Gosforth High Street.

Shoppers also got an eye-full as the strapping players sat in a bath of custard in the hairdressers’ window. It was just one of many events around the region yesterday as fun-loving fundraisers got into the spirit of Red Nose Day.

There were more skimpy outfits at Northumbrian Water. Don Coe, operations manager, plunged into the Derwent Reservoir, in County Durham dressed in a red bikini, red waders and red nose. Tastier treats were provided by Consett-based Tanfield Food Company.

They donated meals from their Look What We Found ready-meal range to nourish celebrities taking part in this year's Red Nose Day event at BBC Television Centre, including Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall and David Tennant.

Students at Northumbria University really got into the ‘Comic’ side of Red Nose Day. From midday to midnight, the Drama Society hosted a 12-hour comedy marathon, performing stand up, sketches, short films, musical comedy, monologues, play extracts, and quiz shows.

And British Transport Police officers showed they had a head for heights by scaling the heights of Durham Cathedral.

Staff at the Jennings Ford and Mazda dealership in Sunderland swapped gear sticks for wooden spoons as they whipped up culinary delights to sell to staff.

Accountants at Ernest and Young donned daft hairdos and comfy slippers for ‘Wear a Wig to Work’ day.

Children at West Jesmond Primary School wore a mish-mash of clothes, making sure their shoes, trousers, tops and hats didn’t match.

Staff at Mercedes Newcastle turned out in their pyjamas, bringing a whole new meaning to ‘duvet day’. And at Whitley Bay Ice Skating Club, skaters donned fancy dress to move around the ice. They were challenged to complete spins and jumps in their daft costumes. The fancy dress theme continued at EDF Energy, where staff dressed up as Cruella de Vil and 101 dalmations. Workers, who staffed 75 phone lines to make sure Comic Relief cash made its way to the coffers, also enjoyed fairground-themed events including hook-a-duck, hoopla and balloon modelling.

Gosforth-based software provider Sage also donated phone lines, with 120 staff volunteering their time.

Jan Brown, Comic Relief’s Campaign Logistics Officer, said: “Thanks to our brilliant volunteers and BT, Red Nose Day call centres will form a virtual network of a staggering 12,000 lines, which will really help us raise our total and change lives.”