Belated Carnival Christmas Present For Charities
April 2010
During the run up to Christmas 2009, Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival Committee helped to raise over £6,000 for local charities by taking a themed carnival cart around the supermarkets and streets of Bridgwater.
Bridgwater Rotary Club, SNAP, Bridgwater Lions Club, Cancer Research UK – Bridgwater branch, St Margaret’s Somerset Hospice, Rhode Lane Wanderers and some Bridgwater carnival clubs all received boosts to their fundraising efforts, as local shoppers and residents dug deep into their pockets to show their appreciation at the decorated cart.
At a recent specially arranged ceremony at JD Wetherspoons’ The Carnival Inn, representatives from the carnival committee officially presented the charities with their respective cheques.
Despite the wintery weather conditions in December, the cart made 15 appearances before Christmas, all arranged by the carnival committee’s collection team. Accompanying the festive cart were collectors from the charities who benefited from the fundraising activities, and Christmas music helped spectators and shoppers get into the party mood. Father Christmas also appeared on the cart and was kept busy talking and handing out sweets to excited children.
Mark Robson, collection officer for Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival Committee, said: “Once again the response from the Bridgwater public was overwhelming, and this is the highest amount of money we have raised from the ‘Christmas run’ since we first started doing it.
“It is so rewarding to do something like this, especially when you see the faces of children light up when they see Father Christmas, and I do hope that everybody involved with the fun enjoyed themselves.
“This is a great way to raise money, and on behalf of Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival Committee and the charities concerned, I would like to thank everyone at Sainsburys, ASDA and Morrisons for their hospitality, and a special thank you to Speedy Hire for their continued help and support.”
