Frome makes huge effort to back Comic Relief

RESIDENTS, businesses and schools in the town are all mounting a huge effort to support this year’s Comic Relief charity drive.

Comic Relief will take place this Friday, 15th of March with a fundraising drive broadcast on BBC One. It runs once every two years, alternating with its sister project Sport Relief.

To help support Comic Relief, the people of Frome are putting on a whole host of fundraising events.

Jenny Clarke, who owns Marston Foot Clinic, will have her head shaved in public in the window of Alex Scott hairdressers on Saturday 16th of March. See full story on page 19.

Two Selwood School pupils, Lauren North and Chloe Eacott, have already completed a one-mile sponsored swim for Comic Relief on Saturday 2nd of March, raising £170 for the cause.

A family disco will be put on at Frome Town Football Club from 7.30pm on Friday 15th March. Prizes will be awarded for the funniest costume competition, with a best joke competition and raffle too. More details on page 14.

Selwood Academy pupils will dress as book characters for the day. Meanwhile, Critchill School and Oakfield Academy pupils will dress up all in red.

At Frome Pet and Aquatics, Steph Graham – whom colleagues say is known for her bubbly, friendly and chatty nature – will be sponsored to stay silent all day. Other members of staff will be dressing up in funny costumes and selling homemade cakes.

Pupils at Christ Church School will hold a charity bake off. The winning class will receive a certificate and the cakes will be sold off to help boost funds for the cause.

The Comic Relief fundraising drive will be broadcasted on BBC One, where top comedians will take to the stage to help draw in as much support for charity as possible. This year, Lenny Henry, Michael McIntyre, John Bishop, Jonathan Ross, Jack Whitehall, Alan Carr, David Walliams, Russell Brand and Nick Grimshaw will all put on a comedy sketch.

The event began in 1985 to help raise cash to combat famine in Ethiopia. Since then, the appeal has raised over £800million to tackle poverty and social injustice across the UK, Africa, and some of the world’s poorest countries.