South fundraisers go all out for Children in Need

Fundraisers of all ages across the south of England have been going the extra mile to support BBC Children in Need.

From Hampshire and Dorset to Oxfordshire, Berkshire and the Isle of Wight, people have been baking, cycling and rattling collection buckets as part of the BBC's annual charity appeal.

Schools, care homes, leisure centres and community groups have embraced the challenge with creative, fun-filled ideas to raise money for disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.

This year's televised Children in Need appeal kicks off at 19:00 GMT on BBC One.

Children at Muddy Ducks nursery near Wokingham were among those getting into the spirit of things after receiving an urgent message from Pudsey, who had managed to got lost while feeding the ducks.

Luckily, the youngsters followed the arrows and eventually discovered him sheltering from the rain. Phew!

And it was an early start for members of five Rotary Clubs in Berkshire as they started collecting at Reading Station.

Members from Reading Abbey, Reading, Maiden Erlegh, Loddon Vale and Pangbourne have had a busy few weeks, delivering Children in Need merchandise to 20 primary schools in the area.

Their efforts have helped raise an impressive £7,000 so far.

Aldershot Garrison Sports Centre attempted a world record in generating the most electrical energy by pedalling on static bicycles for 24 hours – all in aid of BBC Children in Need.

Teams and solo riders from the Army, local businesses and sports clubs took on the challenge in timed sessions - helped along by a DJ.

Amy Wright from Wellow in Hampshire was out raising money for Children in Need for the 35th year.

She won the charity's national Fundraiser of the Year award in 2021 in recognition of her efforts.

She has held several events this year, including a fundraising walk around Romsey.

Fundraisers put on their dancing shoes in Poole, Dorset , for a 12-hour dance-a-thon organised by Asda community and customer champion Vikki Ekema.

And residents and employees from Isis House Care Centre in Oxford pitted their wits against TV's Chaser, Darragh "The Menace" Ennis in a special quiz challenge.

The care home's quiz team, affectionately dubbed "Recycled Teenagers", were asked six questions and were ranked against three other competing teams drawn from across Oxfordshire.

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