Brave Oliver backs ?1m
fund-raising campaign
by Gary Skentelbery
A WARRINGTON youngster is backing an appeal to try and raise ?1m for the Arthritis Research Campaign (arc), during the annual arc Noddy Appeal Week, which starts today, Monday, (June 25).
Seven-year-old Oliver Hankinson from Warrington developed arthritis when he was four, and had great difficulty walking, suffering terrible pain in his left knee.
However, his treatment has been extremely effective in getting his condition under control, and he is now a happy child, enjoying swimming, riding his new two-wheeled bike, and karate.
He has already taken part in numerous fundraising activities, and will be supporting the arc week.
Now he is calling on children, infant schools, nurseries and play groups in Warrington to join in and get Fundraising packs for the fun-tastic week long appeal.
All money raised for arc will be used to fund research into the treatment and cure of children?s arthritis, juvenile Idiopathis Arthritis (JIA), which affects thousands of children throughout the UK.
Elaine Ingram from arc explains, ?Many people think that arthritis is something that affects the elderly, when in fact one in every 1,000 children in the UK are sufferers too.?
All fundraising activities are designed to help educate children and form part of the national curriculum, so by taking part, new skills can be learnt whilst raising money for arc at the same time.
Fundraising ideas available in a fundraising pack include:
Write with Noddy ? Noddy is holding a story and poetry writing competition based on helping others in Toyland, with the chance to win Noddy DVD?s, books and toys. This is a great way to incorporate literacy and creative sections of the national curriculum into the school and nursery day.
Draw with Noddy ? Enter the Noddy drawing competition with a donation to arc and your school, nursery or play group could win a visit from Noddy himself as well as DVD?s, toy?s and the winning picture featured in the Noddy Magazine!
Party with Noddy ? Hold a Noddy themed party with lots of goodies and fun, fun, fun. Download free invitations, make Tessie Bear cakes and pin the tail on Bumpy Dog.
Ingram added, ?To date, we have posted over 52,000 fundraising packs to schools, nurseries and play groups around the UK and have been sent with a fantastic response which I am sure has been helped by Noddy?s popularity with pre-school boys and girls.?
?In the last two-years, thousands of children have helped arc, so please get involved, have a great time and make 2007 the best year yet.?
For more information about the arc Noddy Appeal Week and a fund-raising pack visit www.noddyappeal.org
A four week holiday
that’s worth two years
by David Skentelbery
TWENTY children whose health has been dramatically affected by the world?s worst-ever nuclear disaster arrive in Warrington today for a month-long holiday which could add up to two years to their life expectancy.
They arrive thanks to the efforts of the Burtonwood-based charity Chernobyl Children Lifeline which, next month, celebrates its 10th anniversary.
Since it was formed in 1997, the charity has arranged for 130 children from Belarus to spend a month in Warrington.
The youngsters stay with host families ? and doctors estimate that the holiday boosts the immune system so such as extent that it can add up to two years to their life expectancy.
On Tuesday, July 3 the children will meet Warrington?s Mayor, Coun Celia Jordan at the Town Hall and on Saturday July 14 Chernobyl Children Lifeline, Burtonwood Warrington Link, will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a part at St Michael?s Parish Hall, Burtonwood.
On April 26, 1986, a reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear power plant, in what was then the Soviet Union, ran out of control and exploded.
Radioactive contamination was blown north and more than 70 per cent of the radioactive substances fell onto the population of Belarus.
As a direct result, the country lost 25 per cent of its prime farmland and forest and hundreds of villages were abandoned ? and remain deserted today.
Estimates vary as to the death toll. But around 50 people ? mainly emergency services and workers at the plant ? had died within three weeks. More than 330,000 people were evacuated to ?safe? areas.
The United Nations Chernobyl Forum estimates that 9,000 people will eventually die as a result of the disaster. Greenpeace predicts a darker picture, forecasting a total death toll of some 200,000 ? 93,000 of them due to cancer.
Chernobyl Children Lifeline Burtonwood Link needs more host families and needs help raising funds. Anyone who would like to help should contact chairman Colin Frodsham on 01925 221614.
Pupils made
waves at the BBC
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON pupils were pitch perfect when they made radio waves at the BBC.
Eleven pupils from William Beamont, Great Sankey, St Gregory’s and Penketh high schools worked with BBC journalist Steve Coleman at Radio Merseyside to produce radio trails to be aired in the next few weeks.
The pupils had less than two and a half hours to brainstorm, script and record trails for three programme areas – sticking within strict broadcast guidelines.
Organised as part of Warrington 14-19 Pathfinder and Warrington Learning Partnership’s LIFE Programme, the visit aimed to promote the introduction of new specialised learning diplomas in Creative and Media Studies.
Mr Coleman was said the pupils worked hard and he was impressed by the their creativity.
He said: “They were under a lot of pressure because they didn’t really have much time to work in but they did a great job and should be pleased with themselves.”
Emergency services
on flood alert
by David Skentelbery
EMERGENCY Services at Warrington were bracing themselves for flooding as overnight rain continued to lash the town this morning.
There were no flood warnings from the Environment Agency ? but neither were there on Friday when several areas of the town were hit by flooding in the late afternoon and early evening.
A Fire Service spokesman said: ?We are just waiting for the first call to come in from a householder whose home has been flooded.
?We had quite a few on Friday and we are expected some today.?
Twenty homes in the Cleveland Road-Sandy Lane area of Orford were flooded on Friday evening.
There was also flooding in Dallam, Bewsey and at Sankey Bridges.
Householders in Liverpool Road, near the Sankey Canal, had sandbags at the ready as Liverpool Road flooded to a depth of six inches. Homes there have been flooded many times over the years, but this time the floodwater stopped just short of their front doors.
At least one motorist was stranded when h is car stopped in the flooded road.
The forecast is for more rain ? although the worst rainfall is expected in the North East rather than the North West.
The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for the whole of the North West.
Schools urged to take
up “free maps” offer
by John Hendon
SCHOOLS in Warrington are being urged to get involved in an initiative by Britain?s national mapping agency, Ordnance Survey, to provide free maps for every 11-year-old in the country.
Coun Paul Kenny, who represents Fairfield and Howley on the borough council, is giving the scheme his full backing.
Since it started in 2002 Ordnance Survey has given away more than 3.8 million 1:25000 scale Explorer maps to 11 year olds.
Across the Warrington area more than 2,500 maps were issued last year to local pupils.
The children themselves keep the maps – they can take them home and benefit from having it with them at all times.
Coun Kenny said: “Maps really bring an area where children live to life. They als
o play an important part in the school curriculum.
?They help youngsters understand more about the world around them and enable them to explore the landscape confidently, responsibly and hopefully with great enjoyment.
“Providing free maps to schools is a welcome initiative. Encouraging more young people to engage safely with the world around them, opens up a range of new ways to learn. I would urge all local schools to get involved.”
Schools in the borough can register for the scheme during September with maps being distributed up to January next year.
More information is available from www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk
Euro MP backs
ban on fur trade
by Lesley Wilkinson
A NEW law to ban the trade in cat and dog fur has been backed by Warrington-based Euro MP Brian Simpson.
He said: “I am thrilled that Euro MP’s have voted to ban this horrific trade. I expect all member states to enforce this ban when it comes into force in December 2008.”
More than two million dogs and cats are slaughtered each year for their furs and skins ? and Mr Simpson says this is “immoral.”
He said: “At least 10 dogs are slaughtered to make a single coat – more if puppies are used and up to 24 cats to make one fur coat. This ban has been a long time coming.
“European consumers are purchasing products such as clothes or toys, completely unaware that they contain cat or dog fur due to the lack of labelling. A victory indeed for animal lovers!”
College pride over
ex-student’s success
by Lesley Wilkinson
STAFF at Warrington?s Priestley college are proud of the record of a former student who has achieved success at Super League level with Warrington Wolves.
Kevin Penny (pictured)has made a good start to his senior career at the Wolves crossing for a brace of tries against Leeds in the league and then one at World Champions, St Helens in the Challenge Cup.
It follows his success at college when in 2005 he gained a record 17 tries in just nine appearances for the college’s Rugby League side that went onto become national champions.
He completed the BTEC First Diploma in Sport and progressed onto the BTEC Certificate award, before the Wolves came calling.
His success follows on from a line of recent students who have gone on to join Warrington first team including prop forward Mike Cooper. Mark Gleeson, Paul Wood and Paul Noone (now Widnes) are also all former Priestley students.
Head of Sport Nigel Howells said: “We were very happy to hear of Kevin’s recent success at Super League level and as with all professional sports we know there is no substitute for pace and he has that in abundance.”
Cabbies’ pick up
more than a fare
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON’S taxi drivers pulled together to pick up more than a good fare at their national industry event.
For the second year running, the borough council was rewarded for its drivers’ strong commitment to the National Private Hire and Taxi Exhibition with a prize of ?300.
The council encouraged drivers to attend the event at Coventry to promote good practice through increased awareness of the latest technology and training opportunities.
The prize money, awarded to the council which brings along the most drivers, covered the costs of travelling to the exhibition.
