��tv Children in Need Feed

Who Said Bears Can’t Fly?

2014-11-19T14:43:56+00:00

Around 9,000 people got a real treat this year at the Little Grandsen Airshow with world class aerobatics from Mark Jeffries. A Twister, Hurricane, Spitfire and Lancaster Bombers took to the skies to put on a spectacular show to raise money for ��tv Children in Need – raising a record-breaking £63,743.69 for our Appeal.

“We had more visitors than we’ve ever had – the event was a sell out,” said organiser Dave Poile, “And we raised more money than ever before!”

What began 22 years ago as a small charity event is now a regular fixture in South Cambridgeshire. This year’s August event saw the four-hour air show begin with a Spitfire flyover, closely followed by a Tiger Moth bi-plane and C172 display. The Trig Aerobatic Team wowed audiences with their acrobatic stunts before a former RAF Vulcan took to the skies for three final flyovers.

But the highlight of the day was definitely the arrival of nine Pudsey bears, who had flown all the way from Canada in the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s Lancaster Bomber especially for the event.

Later, the Pudseys were auctioned off amid lots of other fun activities. “Along with the flying display we had a craft fair, side stalls, food and drink and over 450 classic cars to see,” says Dave, who was awarded an MBE in 2007 for his charitable work.

Dave was inspired to begin fundraising when his daughter was just a baby. “Many years ago, when my daughter was little, she was admitted to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge suffering from dehydration,” explains Dave.

“At that time, ��tv Children in Need was on the TV in the Children’s Ward and being surround by so many desperately sick children left me thinking what could I do to raise money to help.”

When he met brothers Mark and John Jeffries – owners of Little Gransden Airfield - he had the perfect idea.

“I asked Mark if we could use his airfield for a event to raise money for ��tv Children in Need. His answer was, ‘Yes there is the airfield use it,’ and the rest is history!”

The next Little Grandsen Airshow will be on 30 August 30 2015. Head to their website for more information and to buy tickets.

No matter how big or small your idea, fundraising for our Appeal makes you a true Hero – just like Dave.

Raising just £1 means a seriously ill child can have her spirits raised by a clown doctor, while £7 means a deaf boy who has been in and out of hospital can enjoy hands on activities at an outdoor survival skills day.

So what are you waiting for: sign up to the brand new ��tv Children in Need Fundraising Hero Hub for exclusive news, fundraising tools and tips that will help get your own Heroic activities off to a flying start!

Bright Sparks

2014-10-23T13:22:24+00:00

Fraser’s mum Shona had a perfect pregnancy. But during his birth, Fraser’s heart stopped and he was starved of oxygen. Near death for the next 72 hours, he spent the next six days in intensive care. After four more long days, Shona and Fraser were finally allowed home, where her plans for motherhood changed forever. Fraser’s traumatic birth had left him with Cerebral Palsy, a neurological condition that affects movement, co-ordination and sometimes even communication.

Shona had to leave her job: looking after Fraser and his older brother Mark needed all of her time and energy. And although she tried taking Fraser along to mother and toddler groups, she didn’t feel comfortable when he couldn’t keep up with the other children.

Then she found Bright Sparks, a special place where disabled children can play and socialise with other youngsters: its busy building hosts clubs every night of the week as well as during school holidays.

Based in an old schoolhouse in Midlothian, Scotland - wrangled from the hands of the council ten years ago by founder Louise Gough - it’s a small space where magic happens.

Shona instantly found Bright Sparks to be a lifeline: it was there that she met other mums with disabled children and finally felt like there were people who understood the difficulties of her situation. Fraser loved Bright Sparks from his first visit, especially the holiday club, funded by ��tv Children in Need. He now goes on trips away with his brother, Mark.

It’s something Shona never thought she’d see: Doctors always told her that her little boy wouldn’t walk or talk, but Fraser is thriving at Bright Sparks – both emotionally and physically.

After starting physiotherapy at 10 months, and with the help of Bright Sparks, he’s now walking and starting to talk. Shona puts this down to the positive reinforcement from all the staff, who have boosted his confidence enormously.

“It was such a relief to find Bright Sparks - you think you’re the only person in the world with a disabled child,” she says. “Fraser is so comfortable at Bright Sparks, I see his eyes light up when he hears its name. It gives me strength coming here, and I dread to think what life would be like without them".

"Holiday times are particularly hard, as all routine goes out the window. The Bright Sparks trips are a wonderful help and it’s great that Fraser and Mark can have quality time together as brothers.”

Bright Sparks is so popular that it has a long waiting list for all its groups. It has even started rotating children so everyone gets time at the centre. Thanks to your Heroic donations, many more children will get the support they need from the centre in years to come.

Supporting ��tv Children in Need, no matter how big or small your contribution, makes a real difference to the lives of children and young people right on your doorstep.

Raising just £2.50 could help supply a special pack for premature babies with life-limiting conditions. And £250 means a child with Cerebral Palsy and his family can continue to have healthy meals by paying for a new cooker after their old one was condemned as unsafe.

Sign up to our Fundraising Hero Hub to access exclusive news, tools and tips that will help get your Heroic fundraising activities off to a flying start!

George’s Big Idea: Campfest 2014!

2014-10-15T14:33:09+00:00

While 10-year-old George was wandering around CarFest last year, he decided to do two very important things - raise money for ��tv Children in Need and hold his own mini festival.

Campfest

A year later, George’s dreams became reality - he combined the two to welcome over 40 people to ‘Campfest 2014’, a fundraising festival he’d created in his own back garden!

“I gave him a budget of £100 to spend on anything related to the event,” says mum Carol, who helped George with his ‘big idea’. “Food, drink, prizes: everything.”

George used the funds wisely and spent months organising the summer festival – planning the entertainment, getting a stage built and devising a menu plan for the weekend.

George

No detail was overlooked. “He even ordered wristbands and sent them out with the invites to our family and friends,” says Carol.

George was determined to raise as much money as possible and make it fun too, proving himself to be a true ��tv Children in Need Hero.

And in doing so he gave his family, friends and local community in Kent the opportunity to fundraise too - right on their own doorsteps!

Guests who pitched their tents in the back garden for the August festival were treated to a talent show, a dance-off, karaoke, a treasure hunt, waterslide and much more - all thanks to George.

“He organised entertainment for the children for the whole weekend,” says Carol. Campfest 2014 raised £358.87 for ��tv Children in Need, but his hero duties aren’t over yet: he’s busy planning Campfest 2015!

No matter how big or small your idea, fundraising for us makes you a true Hero.Sign up to the brand new ��tv Children in Need Fundraising Hero Hub to access lots of tips on how to raise money for Appeal 2014.

Rob’s Helping Hands

2014-10-01T08:35:52+00:00

When an accident left fitness fanatic Rob Groves a paraplegic, he had to come to terms with a whole new way of life. Now he’s cycling from Edinburgh to London to raise money for ��tv Children in Need – using just his hands!

Handcycling

Hero Rob will start his epic challenge at ��tv Edinburgh in Midlothian on 9 November, and will hand-cycle for six days – sometimes overnight - to reach London.

The 414mile journey is the culmination of two years of intense training for 57-year-old Rob, who hopes to inspire others to challenge themselves with his fantastic feat. “Finishing this ride will definitely be the biggest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” says Rob. “But it’s not about me, it’s about raising funds for ��tv Children in Need and sending a positive message to anyone who’s lacking inspiration - to tell them they can achieve anything they put their minds to.”

All Heroes get nervous from time to time and Rob admits he feels a little apprehensive as he counts down to the intense physical challenge. But when raising just £5 means a 5-year-old boy in hospital and anxious about his treatment can giggle and laugh at a magical entertainer, nerves disappear.

And he has plenty of motivation to keep him going - not only does he have a support vehicle and a motor home of helpers travelling alongside him, but he also has the stories of the many less fortunate children he met during his recovery to spur him on.

“Since becoming a paraplegic, I have met so many children who were born with a disability,” he explains. “I met a 14-year-old girl recently while I was out raising awareness about spinal injuries and she said to me: ‘You don’t know how lucky you are - I’ve never walked.’”

Before the accident that changed his life eight years ago, our Hero Rob was a fitness instructor with his own health club and was passionate about keeping fit.

“Afterwards I ballooned to 17 and a half stone,” he recalls. “I went into a dark place and I wouldn’t go out, nor accept a wheelchair. I was desperate to get my mojo back and knew that something had to change.”

In need of inspiration, it was only when the qualified nutritionist was watching the 2012 Paralympics that he was finally encouraged to start training again – and he decided to give hand-cycling a try.

Rob heroically threw himself into training and slowly began to get back into shape.

“I have been training solidly for two years to get ready for this,” says true superhero Rob. “Five times each week and for three hours at a time, I lift weights and use a crank cycle to build up my strength and stamina. I also regularly go out and cycle to prepare myself for the challenges of the open road. I’m currently able to cover at least 14 miles an hour.”

Back on track and with his strength returning, Rob was quick to turn his attention to helping others through raising money – something he was no stranger to in the years before his accident. “I used to do a lot of fundraising and I was keen to take it up again,” he says.

Rob chose to raise money for ��tv Children in Need after seeing how the projects we fund can truly make a difference. “A friend’s child recently died of leukemia and another friend’s baby died at birth from a brain haemorrhage,” Rob explains. “I know that ��tv Children in Need helps both the family as well as those who suffer from these terrible illnesses.”

Rob’s six-day challenge will see him pass through ��tv studios in Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and Oxford before he arrives to a Hero’s welcome at ��tv Broadcasting House in London. Pudsey himself will be there to congratulate the champion!

“At least I have experienced being an able-bodied person,” says Rob. “It’s that thought that spurs me on every day.”

Our Hero Rob is undertaking an epic challenge for ��tv Children in Need. But no matter how big or small your idea, fundraising for us makes you a true Hero. Just £1 could prevent a child from going hungry at breakfast time for a week.

Sign up to the brand new ��tv Children in Need Fundraising Hero Hub for exclusive news, fundraising tools and tips that will help get your heroic activities off to a flying start.

To keep updated on Rob’s progress check out his fundraising page.

��tv Children in Need is back, and asking Britain to get baking!

2014-09-08T19:48:59+00:00

��tv Children in Need is back, and is asking Britain to get baking one of the Nation’s favourite cakes to help make a difference to young lives right here in the UK.

Which team will you join?

Stars from across British television and radio including Sir Terry Wogan, Fearne Cotton, Nick Grimshaw, Tess Daly, Matt Baker and Alex Jones have joined forces to galvanise the nation to become baking heroes for ��tv Children in Need by baking one of the nation’s favourite cakes.

��tv Children in Need’s six celebrity friends are each championing one of the nation’s favourite cakes, and are asking the public to be a baking hero by getting behind their team and holding a bake sale with their chosen cake to support the 2014 Appeal.

Backing #TeamLemonDrizzle is ��tv Children in Need’s Lifetime President Sir Terry Wogan who said of his team: “My own wife's lemon drizzle cake is a thing of beauty, so, I am asking you, the Great British public, to get behind me and bake, bake, bake, to make a lemon drizzle to remember, for ��tv Children in Need this year! Think of all the money we can raise together for disadvantaged children and young people all across the UK.”

A Baker by name, Matt Baker is fronting #TeamFruitCake, he is calling on his baking friends to join his team and bake a delicious fruit cake: “Come on Britain, I want you to join Team Fruit Cake! What could be easier to raise lots of money for ��tv Children in Need?”

Baking enthusiast Fearne Cotton is calling on the Nation to join #TeamCarrotCake, Fearne said of her team: “Come on everyone, I want you to join me in baking a delicious carrot cake for ��tv Children in Need this year! It’ll be fun to throw on an apron and get a bit messy whilst becoming a baking hero for Pudsey, every penny your carrot cake raises goes straight to projects supporting children and young people right here in the UK.”

Swapping her Strictly ball gown for an apron, Tess Daly is captaining #TeamVictoriaSponge, Tess called on bakers across the UK saying: “As a nation we all love a slice of Victoria Sponge Cake, so I am asking you to join Team Victoria Sponge and become a baking hero whilst raising money for ��tv Children in Need. Victoria Sponge has it all – it’s light, it’s jammy and it’s perfect with a cup of tea. So come on everyone, be a hero and bake for ��tv Children in Need this year!”

Typically calling on the public whilst they are enjoying their breakfast, Nick Grimshaw is asking the public to pop down their cereal and join his team, #TeamChocolateCake: “Come on Britain; I want you to join me in baking a delicious Chocolate cake for ��tv Children in Need this year! We all know Chocolate cake is better than Sir Terry’s favourite, Lemon Drizzle, so join me and together we can help make a difference.”

Baking hero Alex Jones is taking the helm of #TeamBattenberg and is asking for people up and down the UK to bake a classic Battenberg, for ��tv Children in Need this year, she said of her team: “Baking for ��tv Children in Need could not be simpler, pick one of the nation’s favourite cakes and put on a bake sale! I want you all to join Team Battenberg, but whatever team you decide to join will go on to help make a difference, so thank you.”

David Ramsden, Chief Executive of ��tv Children in Need says: “There are thousands of children and young people right here in the UK who urgently need our help and we can only be there for them thanks to the incredible generosity, imagination and commitment of our supporters. This year we hope that everyone will have fun and raise money that really will change the lives of disadvantaged children and young people by baking or doing lots of other amazing things!”

To date the Great British public has raised over £740 million for children and young people across the UK and the Charity is calling on people to once again pull out the stops and start baking to help raise money to change young lives!

Helen & Douglas House Hospice

2014-08-27T12:24:16+00:00

As adults, we know that things don’t always go to plan, and sometimes we have to deal with the unexpected. In these situations, the support and kindness of others can make a real difference to everyday life. Helen & Douglas House is a very special children’s hospice in Oxford that offers this support and kindness at times like these, when families need it most.

Helen House was the world’s first children’s hospice and Douglas House was set up in 2004 to provide the same care to young adults with life-limiting conditions, as well as their families. They offer specialist symptom and pain management, medically-supported short breaks and end-of-life care, as well as counselling and practical support for the whole family.

We’d like to tell you about Evie and Thomas, two very special children helped by Helen & Douglas House.

Evie and Thomas

Thomas’s story

Thomas is eight, and lives with his mum, dad and older brother Morgan. Morgan is 10, and has a very rare condition called Dravet Syndrome, which only affects 150 people in the UK. It means that Morgan has regular seizures, often in his sleep. When he was four, a particularly serious set of seizures caused him to lose all the abilities he’d learnt as a young child. He’s since begun to move and walk again, but he still can’t communicate very well. He has no awareness of speed or danger and so he gets about in a wheelchair to keep him safe. Morgan needs a lot of care, and parents Michele and Robert have to be very watchful.

Thomas cares deeply for Morgan. He knows how to give Morgan his oxygen, how to call for an ambulance and what it means to have a seizure. Thomas knows that sometimes he can’t spend as much time with his parents as he’d like. This means that he has had less time to do the things children his age want to do, but he’s very grown up, and he understands why.

Helen House gives Morgan 14 nights respite care a year, allowing Thomas valuable time with his parents. They also run residential breaks for the siblings of children being cared for at the hospice and that’s where he met Evie and made other new friends in similar circumstances.

Thomas and his new friends.

Thomas’ mum Michele was initially wary about seeking support from a hospice, but a visit to Helen House soon changed her mind:

“The word hospice made me apprehensive so it took a year for me to visit, but we watched a DVD about the place and it made me think again. When I went there and saw the children smiling and laughing, I realised that this is the sort of place where anything goes. I vividly remember seeing this one little girl who wanted to dress up as a fairy but she couldn’t because she was in a wheelchair so the costume wouldn’t fit her properly. So the male nurse made her a fairy costume by cutting up something else that was in the dressing up box. It was brilliant. She was able to be a fairy after all.

Where’s there’s normally a ‘no’ from a parent to a child or a ‘we’ll do it tomorrow’, at Helen House they just do it. And siblings in particular get a lot of ‘no, we can’t because your brother can’t do it’ so it’s great for Thomas.”

Evie’s story

Evie’s also eight, and lives with her mum, dad and older sister Mabel. She loves music (she’s particularly fond of a certain boy band!), making things and playing with friends. But recently, she and her family have been through a difficult time after her youngest sister Beatrice, just a year old, died.

When Evie’s mum, Elizabeth, was pregnant, everything seemed fine. When Beatrice was born, however, medical staff soon realised that her brain hadn’t formed properly, and because of this she was partially deaf and blind. Doctors struggled to diagnose her condition. She had to be fed through a tube and was dependent on oxygen. It was clear that Beatrice would need lots of specialist care.

A little later, doctors told the family about Helen & Douglas House. Elizabeth arranged to visit the house for a brief respite; she planned to stay with Beatrice while Mabel and Evie took part in activities organised by the care team. It was at this time that Beatrice, having always been susceptible to chest infections, caught pneumonia, and passed away. She was just under a year old.

Elizabeth said: “After Beatrice died in hospital, we were able to bring her to Helen House and stay with her for seven days while family and friends came and said their goodbyes. Meanwhile, the staff were doing things like our laundry and helping us to make funeral arrangements. We were moving house that week as well so it was an incredibly stressful time. But the care from the staff at Helen House was just amazing. It made saying goodbye a lot more humane and bearable in an unbearable situation.”

Beatrice’s passing had a big effect on Evie and Mabel. The girls had been so excited at the thought of having a little sister to look after, but ended up dealing with something completely different. They both took up the offer of counselling from a support worker, Laura, at Helen House. Laura worked with the girls once a week at their school, also giving them one-to-one support. Mabel and Evie also joined the Elephant Club, a support group for siblings at Helen House. The friends they’ve made there have been an important part of the grieving process for the girls.

Elizabeth told us: “One day, the girls came home from Elephant Club and said to me ‘we met a girl today and she’s got a sister in heaven as well.’ It was great for them to see that they are not alone and that they weren’t to blame for anything.”

A ��tv Children in Need grant of £113,000 over three years funds four sibling workers at Helen & Douglas House. For three decades, these hospices have helped children like Evie and Thomas to make sense of their experiences, and to understand that they’re not alone. Your money means that whatever happens, children and families in unimaginable situations will always be able to turn to places like Helen & Douglas House.

Taking a bus for the Bear!

2014-08-15T08:37:49+00:00

Just in case you’ve forgotten what a glorious country we live in, there’s no better way to become reacquainted with the beauty of Britain than a Summer ride on one of the UK’s many scenic bus routes. There’s nobody that knows this better than Steve Gibbs, a determined fundraiser from Wigston currently in the midst of an epic fundraising journey across the UK.

Powered on by his pacemaker, 74-year-old Steve is currently en route from Land’s End to John O’ Groats and back again - all by bus! That’s a two week journey covering over 2000 miles, on 66 buses - and it’s all for free with a bus pass! With a huge £5,000 fundraising target, Steve’s determined to prove himself a Hero, and we’re certain he’s going to succeed.

The challenge is now well underway – Steve arrives back at Land’s End on Sunday 17 August. We were lucky enough to catch up with Steve shortly before he caught his first bus to ask him some questions:

��tv CiN: Hi Steve, can you tell us a little bit about your challenge?

Steve: The aim is to travel from Land’s End to John O’Groats and return using only local bus services and concessionary bus passes or sponsored tickets, so basically for free. It has been done before but to make it different this time we’re including the crossing and tour of Ronald’s way in the Orkneys which will make it much longer - and unique!

The other special part of the trip is that, at 75 on my next Birthday, I will be the oldest person to do it and the first powered by a pacemaker!

��tv CiN: Sounds great! How did you come up with the idea?

Steve: The idea came to me in December last year after a very vivid dream one night. In the morning I mentioned this to my wife who just said “well, why not do it then!”

��tv CiN: It’s a pretty big challenge – how are you feeling? Nervous? Excited?

Steve: The prospect of catching so many buses is rather daunting but the prize is to pass through so many beautiful parts of the UK and, of course, to cross to the Orkneys, which otherwise would not be possible for me.

Steve taking the helm at the start of his challenge.

��tv CiN: How have you prepared for the challenge?

Steve: I have some fantastic sponsors including the medical company who made my pacemaker, bus companies, work-wear suppliers, not to forget friends and family along the route who are putting me up overnight in Exeter and Derby - or my long suffering wife! I do intend to use this challenge to meet people and to recognise especially the part that the bus drivers will be playing to get me there and back. I hope that they will all have a photograph with Pudsey who will be with me all the way and give me some interviews.

��tv CiN: You’re going to be on a lot of buses – how are you going to keep yourself entertained?

Steve: There must be so many interesting people to meet during such an epic journey, so most of my time will be spent talking and finding stories to tell afterwards. I hope that Pudsey will oil the wheels and get drivers and passengers to reveal all. I will also be accompanied on some legs by family and friends so I won’t be a “Lone Ranger” all of the time.

��tv CiN: We hear you’re taking Pudsey along with you - what part of the challenge do you think Pudsey will enjoy most?

Steve: The best thing for Pudsey will be at the end when he can hand over the money so that the children he loves so much can be made happier.

��tv CiN: Why did you choose ��tv Children in Need?

Steve: We chose ��tv Children in Need as our beneficiary as wherever we are in UK, people will be happy to give knowing that somewhere in their region children are benefitting from their contributions.

��tv CiN: How can people keep updated with your challenge?

Steve: If anyone wants to see our progress we will be updating our website during the travelling with photographs and comments.

The brave and defiant Steve setting off at Land's End.

If you want to find out more about Steve's challenge, you can visit his JustGiving page, or take a look at his website and facebook page. And don't forget to follow ��tv Children in Need on Facebook and Twitter too, for regular updates about all our heroic fundraisers!

The 5 Nation 48 Challenge for ��tv Children in Need

2014-07-18T11:17:48+00:00

On August 1 2014, an all-star football team led by veteran fundraiser Barry Donegan will be embarking on a very unusual challenge. The team will be playing 5 football games… in 5 nations… within a 48 hour time period! It’s all part of The 5 Nations 48 Challenge, the brainchild of Barry and his friend David, all in aid of ��tv Children in Need! It’s not going to be easy, but if they succeed, they could even end up with a Guinness World Record!

However, these aren’t just any football teams – professional footballers and stars from the nation’s favourite soaps are all giving up their time to make the challenge work! Ex-footballers such as Lee Sharpe and Gary Bennett (just two of many) will be taking on soap luminaries such as Nick Pickard and Alan Halsall, all to have a bit of fun and raise a bit of cash.

The Route

It all starts at 6pm on August 1 2014. The first game will be played at Gretna Football club in Scotland. The team will be facing a strong side made up of ex-Carlisle United players.

After this dramatic start the team will then cross the water over to Northern Ireland for their next game at 10am the next morning, taking on a team including Jim Magilton and Stephen Robinson.

A whirlwind day then sees the (by now probably quite tired) team travelling south into Ireland to face off against a team headed by Boyzone's Keith Duffy. Kick off starts at 5pm at Peamount United Football Ground. Keith's put together an all-star team of ex-footballer and celebrities, so this should be a great game to see.

The following morning finds the journeying back over the water to Wales for a challenging game against Pen-y-cae FC, with a kick off at 10am at Pen-y-cae FC's ground.

The fifth and final game pitts a tired but determined team against the 'TV Select; team at Nantwich Town Football Club at 2.30pm. This game matches our charity team against a squad made of players from popular TV soaps. Some of the names confirmed include Danny Miller from Emmerdale, Nick Pickard and Nico Mirallegro from Hollyoaks , Jamie Lomas from Eastenders, and TV favourite Ralph Little.

A photo from Barry's previous star-laden football tournament!

Fancy getting involved, or simply feel like watching the beautiful game? You can help Barry and the gang reach their £20,000 fundraising target just by attending a game at the locations above - all of the games look set to be good fun! Alternatively you can donate a little something to Barry and the boys - you can find their donation page here. Of course, every penny they raise will go towards helping children and young people right here, in the UK. Good luck Barry, and a big thank you from everyone here at Pudsey HQ!

Going the Extra Mile for Pudsey Bear

2014-07-17T15:05:56+00:00

Summer is upon us! This may mean that, in true British fashion, the weather rotates between overcast and rainy with rare and fleeting bursts of proper sunshine, but it’s still summer nonetheless! It also means that a lot of keen Brits are fastening their laces, hitting the road, and running races for charity all over the UK. In case you were thinking of running for ��tv Children in Need this year, we wanted to share the story of an inspirational group of fundraisers with you. Who knows, it might just give you the inspiration to embark on your own fundraising challenge…

The Gump Challenge

Last September, a truly heroic group of firefighters from Tamworth took to the road for an epic challenge – all in aid of ��tv Children in Need. The Gump Challenge, a 9-day, 280 mile circular run through the hilly terrain of Staffordshire, saw the brave group running over a marathon every day!

The Gump Challenge looking chirpy on the first day of their challenge

The group had planned their journey carefully, and as the journey went on, the increasingly beaten and battered Gumpers bunked down every night in a different Fire Station along the way. Once they finished for the day, the group would have a chilly ice bath before bed, waking up ready to hit the road again for another demanding day. By the time the group crossed the finish line they’d run 280 miles through gale-force winds, piercing rain, sweltering highs and freezing cold lows.

In true Forrest Gump style, the team encouraged members of the public to get their kit out and join them on their challenge. It might seem like having the occasional stranger on your run might be slow you down, or be a distraction, but for The Gumpers it proved to be the opposite.

When we asked group leader Matt how he and his colleagues stayed motivated throughout the run, he told us that it was the amazing and inspiration people they met from all over the county that kept the group running all the way to the finish line.

And a little later, a wet but happy team.

It was an amazing challenge - and an incredible physical undertaking. But at the end of the day, when all the money was collected in, it proved to be well worth it. The brave and bold Gumpers raised over £5,590 for charity. Half of this money was given to a very grateful Pudsey Bear, - every penny will go towards helping disadvantaged children and young people. The other half will be given to The Fire Fighter’s Charity.

Feeling inspired? Well, if you and your colleagues, or your friends and family feel like proving your mettle and stretching your legs, we’ve asked Matt, main Gumper, for his top tips on how to have a good running challenge. He kindly offered the following sage advice:

1. Invest in a suitable pair of running trainers! Your local running shop will be able to advise you on the right pair for you, this could be cushioned or more 'structured' for support. A good pair of trainers will help to protect you against the possibility of running related injuries.

2. Don't be afraid to walk! Just because you are setting out on a running programme doesn't mean that you can't take a walk-run approach. Building in some walking breaks will enable you to build your endurance more quickly than if you run for longer and then stop to get your breath back.

3. Use the 10% rule! It is easy to get carried away when you are enjoying something new and seeing improvement. Increasing your mileage too quickly can lead to injury, so a good rule of thumb is not to increase your distances by more than 10% each week.

4. Keep well hydrated. Make sure you drink plenty throughout the day so you start your run well hydrated - if you feel dry you are already dehydrated. Fruit and vegetables have a high water content, so a healthy, balanced diet will help you to keep well hydrated.

5. Remember to stretch! I personally prefer to stretch after I run, rather than before. Muscles are best stretched when they are warm and pliable, rather than cold and short. Build yourself a little routine, where you slow your pace at the end of a run or walk a few hundred metres, then stretch your main muscle groups - back, quadriceps (front of your thigh), hamstrings (back of your thigh), calves and shoulders.

Feeling ambitious? Think you could organise an even better challenge? Well, then, give it a try! Whatever you do, don’t forget to let us know. You can email us on this page here, or tag us on Facebook @officialpudsey or Twitter and Instagram @��tvCiN. Go on, Be a Hero!

Victory for Lesley and Pudsey!

2014-05-08T12:23:25+00:00

Hero fundraiser Lesley is on the high seas, sailing a gruelling 5500-mile leg of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. And there's massive cause for celebration for her and her team on board the GREAT Britain yacht, after winning Race 11 from San Francisco to Panama.

It’s obviously something about having a small yellow bear on board! It was a fantastic morning as we sailed towards the finish, and I was given the honour of helming the yacht across the line. The trouble was that we really weren't sure where our nearest competitor was, whether they were in front or behind us. At the finish there were whoops of joy on board but still a bit of uncertainty. When we got the confirmation through that we'd won, it was just brilliant. In actual fact we were several miles ahead!

It’s extraordinary. Before I started I had this nervous anxiety that, with only 3 weeks training, I might just be a spare part on board. What’s struck me though is the amazing team spirit, and the one-to-one coaching. The experts are gently stretching us to learn new skills, whether that’s trimming the sail or being on the helm - we're really contributing and not just being passengers.

Every eight days we do a 14-hour shift cooking for the rest of the crew

The most difficult thing has definitely been the heat. It's been 40 degrees at the Tropics and you can’t escape it. When you’re trying to grab a few hours’ sleep and you can’t get cool - that’s the one thing that’s hit me more than anything else. In terms of the actual sailing, it’s been really different to the training. We've just had 11 days sailing downwind with the spinnaker up and you don’t get much chance to do that in the English Channel where we practised.

Right now we're all busy doing on-board maintenance. We’re repairing some sails and there are various things that need fixing, and once that’s done we’ll have a few days off before the next race. The next one is a short one, only two to three days to Jamaica, but it’ll be very intensive. Then we have a longer stopover, before the last one up to New York.

My biggest motivation to keep going is not wanting to let my team down. It's what wakes me up when I’m sleeping , makes me put my life jacket on and gets me on deck. And now I have the added thrill of knowing we can win the races! Let’s try to do more of the same!

See how much Lesley has raised on her JustGiving page.

We’ll be bringing you Lesley’s news as the race progresses over the next two months. For the latest updates, follow us on Facebook and Twitter. You can also search #PudseyClipperRace.

Read Lesley's first blog entry

Read Lesley's second blog entry

Run Doonhame 2014

2014-05-06T08:15:13+00:00

On 6 May, a team of runners from Police Scotland are setting off on a 1,000km run to raise money for three charities including ��tv Children in Need!

They'll be running from Wick, on the North East coast of Scotland, finishing in Dumfries in the South.

At the same time they'll be competing against volunteer runners, walkers, athletes who'll be taking part in 30 minute sessions on a treadmill at a gym in Dumfries!

Just before they set off, Pudsey caught up with Colin, one of the Run Doonhame team.

Pudsey: How has your training been going ahead of the challenge?

Colin: The training's gone well. We have a couple of fit guys who are well capable of the endurance aspect of this challenge. Graeme Scott is a probation officer, for example, but also a former captain in the army and he used to race huskies on a professional basis! But the team otherwise are not Olympians. There have been a couple of aches and strains, but no show stoppers so far.

Pudsey: How does this challenge differ from the one last year?

Colin: Last year was around 450 miles in 4 days and came through the flatter east side of Scotland. This year is more difficult - 650 miles (or a round 1,000km) with six days to complete it and the geography and scenery will be much more extreme. Throughout the route, we take in all four coasts of Scotland. We visit the most northerly, southerly and westerly points of mainland Scotland, we pass through the West Highland Way, near Ben Nevis, navigate the banks of Loch Ness and Loch Lomond and we travel right across our own home region in Dumfries and Galloway. This route is much more remote than last year and this poses logistical challenges in terms of road safety, runner support and overall team comfort, not to mention headaches such as phone and internet connection, and battery charging! We have a support cycle (which I'll be on) to act as support for each runner and provide extra overnight visibility protection behind the runner. We also aim to film more comprehensively to keep people interested at home!

Pudsey: How is everyone feeling?

Colin: I think the enormity of the task ahead is now looming large on the horizon and we are apprehensive about it. The runners are worried about the sheer endurance, blisters and muscle strains and spasms while the support team worry about the logistics and continuity of support through the remote countryside. And everybody is worried about fatigue! This year, we have taken the precaution of bringing a sports therapist with us, who has kindly offered to come along for free!

Pudsey: Tell us about the treadmill challenge?

Colin: We felt that we wanted to include and challenge all our colleagues and friends this year. This is the year that the Commonwealth Games visits Scotland and we want to capture that spirit by encouraging others to get out of their armchairs and get a little bit fitter, at whatever level that might be. The treadmillers are from a wide cross section. While there are many off-duty police officers (like me, keen to lose a bit of flab!), we have other emergency service workers, amateur athletes and sports people, but also just a range of eager friends and relatives who want to join in and do their bit. We hope that they also generate a little cash along the way, as many hands make light work!

Pudsey: Why are you raising money for ��tv Children in Need?

Colin: The three charities we are running for this year are West Sound Cash for Kids, the funds for which are exclusively local to Dumfries and Galloway, a Police Charity COPS, which is concerned with the Care of Police Survivors, dependents of serving officers who die in service anywhere in the UK, and of course ��tv Children in Need. So we have a local children's charity, a police orientated charity, which benefits bereaved children, and a national children's charity in CiN! ��tv Children in Need does fantastic work, year on year for kids in the UK. We know how popular and well supported it is and we wanted to provide people with a way of donating to it through our local effort if they wish to do so.

Pudsey: Thanks Colin and GOOD LUCK!!!

Follow the team's progress on their website. For all news from ��tv Children in Need, make sure you follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Lesley and Pudsey on the high seas!

2014-04-24T15:00:21+00:00

Here's the second blog post from Lesley who's sailing a 5500-mile leg of The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race raising money for ��tv Children in Need.

So here I am like the new girl at school, new shiny uniform standing out against the well-worn kit of the old hands. Nervous on my first day, hoping my teachers will be nice and that I can integrate into the class. Wanting to learn, wanting to be competent, wanting to be accepted as part of the tea, but most of all not wanting to let my new classmates down.

Well, all the pre-race nerves in San Francisco have melted away, and now I feel completely at home in this new school out on the big, big blue Pacific Ocean. My teachers, the round the world crew, are brilliant, patient, and extremely knowledgeable gently stretching me to build confidence and master new skills. It’s humbling to sail with the guys who were there for my very first week in training, and who have now travelled 31,000 miles around the world. Owen and Jim are now so at one with this incredible sailing vessel, so at ease with all its quirks and awesome power.

In training in the English Channel, you don't get much chance to "fly a kite" (that's boat speak for getting the spinnaker up). Yet that's pretty much all we have used since heading south downwind on day one, destination Panama. As we have worked our way through all three kites in just three days I have learned a new skill called "trimming". This entails sitting with the working sheet in hand and gazing constantly at the curls, furls, ripples and eddies of the huge sail before you. It’s a delicate game of chance - ease out the sheet too much and the sail collapses, grind in too much, the sail loses shape and the boat slows down. There is a sense of power in the trimmer's commands of "grind" "halt" and "helm", calling out for action from the grinders and helmsman all in the game of keeping the kite flying. Yet, one false move and it can be all over as you watch the sail collapse into the water.

It’s sometimes hard to remember we are in a race. Soon after leaving San Francisco we lost sight of our rivals, yet every so often we get a tantalising glimpse of another yacht ahead or astern. Other than that we ride the waves seemingly alone until one morning, when we were treated to another school of the ocean – a dancing frolicking pod of 40 dolphins playing with us for a couple of hours. It may be old hat to some who have seen it all before, but I will never tire of that.

See how much Lesley has raised on her JustGiving page.

We’ll be bringing you Lesley’s news as the race progresses over the next two months. For the latest updates, follow us on Facebook and Twitter. You can also search #PudseyClipperRace.

Read Lesley's first blog entry

Lesley's Sailing Adventure for ��tv Children in Need

2014-04-09T09:22:00+00:00

There’s something magical about being out in the middle of the ocean, just me and my team mates against the elements, all having to rely on each other.

After one and a half years of intense physical training and mental preparation, I’m just hours away from setting off on my 5,500-mile leg of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. I’ll sail from San Francisco and arrive in New York in two months' time.

I feel nervous and really excited all at once. As a novice sailor, this is an absolute first for me. The Clipper Race is all about novices getting the opportunity to be trained to take on a challenge like this. And I know that while it’s going to be such hard work, it will also be the most incredible experience. We’re expecting to face all the extremes - from terrible storms, heavy rain and rough seas, to intense heat when we reach Panama.

One of the sailors taking part in the race was recently swept overboard while changing a sail and it took an hour and 40 minutes to rescue him. Clipper train you relentlessly in man-overboard drills. It’s a real danger and you have to remember to 'clip-on' at all times. As well as the training there’s also the emotional challenge. I know I’m going to be stuck on a boat with a bunch of people who may not always get on – I’ll just have to find a way of dealing with it. And it’s going to be exhausting. The shifts are either six hours on, six off during the day and four hours on, four off during the night. It sounds odd, but you very quickly get used to grabbing your rest when you can.

I’ve always wanted to sail properly, but being a single parent looking after my children for a big chunk of my life, I hadn’t managed to do it until now. But now that my daughters are grown up, I have the opportunity to fulfil my dream to become a better sailor and do some good as well.

I’m doing this challenge for myself, but knowing that I’m raising money for a worthy cause will give me the motivation I need, especially during those dark, horrible nights when it’s cold and rainy, and when I’m really tired. Although I work for the ��tv, I’ve never raised money before, apart from shaking a ��tv Children in Need bucket in the office! I’ve set myself the target of raising £5,500 - that’s £1 per nautical mile I’m sailing - but it would be great to beat that! ��tv Children in Need has been doing lots of good work for many years, and the fact that’s it’s an umbrella charity giving money to lots of small projects is what makes it unique.”

See how much Lesley has raised so far on her JustGiving page.

We’ll be bringing you Lesley’s news as the race progresses over the next two months. For the latest updates, follow us on Facebook and Twitter. You can also search #PudseyClipperRace.

A Young Carer’s Open Letter to her Mother

2014-03-28T14:46:31+00:00

Last year the ��tv reported that there were a quarter of a million young carers in England and Wales alone. Shannon is a young carer aged 15. For the last seven years she’s been looking after her mum who has multiple sclerosis, and things haven’t been easy. ��tv Children in Need funds a Young Carers group at Voluntary Action South Leicestershire where Shannon goes to get support and help. For Mother's Day Shannon has written an open letter to her mum about the challenges she faces as a young carer.

Dear Mum,

I was 7 years old when I found out you had multiple sclerosis. It happened faster than anything I could have imagined. I remember us being home alone and you were ill. I didn't know what to do so I got the neighbour. They couldn't wake you up, so I called the ambulance. Seeing you ill was bad enough but seeing you rushed to hospital, unconscious, wearing an oxygen mask was even worse! After that day our lives changed forever.

We were really close before this happened. I remember when you were able to walk around without falling over. I remember when we played together and when we were really happy, but after this happened I guess we grew apart. You were so busy with hospital appointments and had your own health to worry about, let alone mine. I didn't see as much of you as I wanted to because you were always in hospital. I didn’t understand a lot of what was happening, so I always worried. Later on I had my own health problems too, but I tried to keep smiling for you, mum.

Shannon and her mum

I think ‘normal’ teenagers sometimes take their childhoods for granted. It’s harder for me to make friends because I come straight home to clean up and help with simple things such as putting your socks on or doing your makeup. Making my own dinner and looking after myself is something other people my age can’t understand. I say that it's ok, not everyone has to do this but I do and it's my life and I can’t change it. Some days it's really hard to keep a smile on your face when all you can think about is someone else's safety but you have to be strong!

I worry about the future because I realise that at some point you could lose all of your stability and would have to be in a wheelchair all day every day. It upsets me watching you get gradually worse. I worry, but no matter what I will always be there to support you!

Mum, you are my inspiration. You’ve always got a positive attitude to life and even when you’re having a bad day, you’re still happy. Sometimes I know you’re hiding how poorly you feel, and don’t tell me. It just goes to show that no matter what goes on in your life, there's always something to smile about!

I love you Mum,

Shannon.

The money that you raise helps ��tv Children in Need to fund projects supporting young people like Shannon. To find out more, like us on Facebook and follow us @��tvCiN on Twitter.

Pudsey satchel bags £270

2014-03-11T13:46:08+00:00

A one of a kind handmade leather satchel has resulted in employees of Ulster Supported Employment Limited (USEL) raising £270 to present to the ��tv Children in Need campaign.

Satchel winner Robert Nesbitt, ��tv’s Wendy Austin, who received the donation on behalf of Children in Need, and Terry Fuller, Commercial Products Manager for USEL

USEL, a Northern Ireland based organisation which provides employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Inspired by last year’s ��tv Children in Need’s event the company made a yellow, 15-inch satchel that prominently features Pudsey’s bandana as a prototype.

Terry Fuller, Commercial Products Manager for USEL, explains: “We needed to custom make one to determine to what degree it might be feasible for us to roll out the idea and find ways to use them to hopefully raise even more funds for this year’s event.

“Employees were so impressed with the outcome that we decided to raffle the much sought after satchel amongst the company’s employees and their families and at the same time raise some funds for ��tv Children in Need.”

Robert Nesbitt, a USEL employee with 35 years service, was the lucky winner of the prize. At the presentation of funds, Robert sweet talked Wendy Austin into making it even more exclusive by having her sign it, as he had designs on presenting it as a gift to his niece.

����tv Children in Need Feed

Who Said Bears Can’t Fly?

Bright Sparks

George’s Big Idea: Campfest 2014!

Rob’s Helping Hands

����tv Children in Need is back, and asking Britain to get baking!

Helen & Douglas House Hospice

Taking a bus for the Bear!

The 5 Nation 48 Challenge for ����tv Children in Need

Going the Extra Mile for Pudsey Bear

Victory for Lesley and Pudsey!

Run Doonhame 2014

Lesley and Pudsey on the high seas!

Lesley's Sailing Adventure for ����tv Children in Need

A Young Carer’s Open Letter to her Mother

Pudsey satchel bags £270

��tv Children in Need Feed

��tv Children in Need is back, and asking Britain to get baking!

The 5 Nation 48 Challenge for ��tv Children in Need

Lesley's Sailing Adventure for ��tv Children in Need