Children Today - For A Brighter Tomorrow

Sunday 21st June saw the third instalment of our It’s a Knockout Challenges 2009 at Platt Fields, Manchester.

On this warm day spectators turned out in their droves to support the eight teams that took part and who collectively raised £8 000 for disabled children!

Every team was brimming with enthusiasm as they prepared to take on the many daft inflatable, wet games involved in this challenge. By the end of the games there was not a dry contestant in the arena!

Children Today would like to say well done to Expotel Reservations who were crowned the winners of the Manchester event. We would also like to thank all the other teams who took part and worked hard to raise their sponsorship money, Bolton Barmy Army, North Manchester Youth Offending Service, the three teams from the Greater Manchester Police, The Albert Inn and the Foster Care Association.

Leicester-based IT manager, John Hughes, has torn himself away from his desk this summer to take part in the first of this year’s London to Paris events, a 450km cycle ride. John set off from London in the early morning of June 3rd and spend 4 days cycling through the English and French countryside, finishing up in Paris on Saturday afternoon.

We caught up with John in Paris at the finish line under the Eiffel Tower.  He said the trip was “…a fantastic experience. So well-organised and we had a lot of fun along the way. Everyone I met was raising money for a great cause and there was a fantastic team spirit throughout the event.”

The second in the series of Children Today’s ‘It’s a Knockout Out’  events took place on Sunday 31st May at Mote Park, Kent. It was the perfect day, the sun was shining, the teams were raring to go and our host the ‘utterly brilliant’ Timmy Mallett was his usual wacky self!

The glorious sunshine brought plenty of spectators out to watch the 13 teams get soaking wet and covered in foam as the they competed to be the winner of these madcap challenges!

The teams were divided up into two sessions so we have two winners of the Kent ‘It’s a Knockout’. Canterbury High School team the Foxy Devils won the first session and Simon Wright Homes won the second!

But well done and thank you to all the teams that took part, The Marlowe Academy, NHS Occupational Therapists, Chuck Norris Allstars, United House Limited, Barclays Bank East Kent, the three teams from Barclays Bank Maidstone, Credit Crunchers, Summit Engineering Limited and the Big Fun Boys team from Canterbury High School.

Everyone had a fantastic experience and lots of fun was had by all - as you can see by the pictures!

On Sunday 17th May at Longford Park in Coventry our first “It’s a Knockout” Challenge took place. Even though it rained on the day, the weather couldn’t dampen the spirits of the eight teams who took in this version of the popular classic televion show. All eight teams had a fantastic time whilst each raising a minimum sponsorship of £1000 per team which will go a long way in helping Children Today purchase specialised equipment for disabled children.

The winners of the Coventry challenge were Parcelforce worldwide, second place were Barclays Coventry Contact Centre and in third place were Co-op Coventry NDC.

We would like to say a big thank to those teams and to the other teams who took part, Ward 40, Coventry City Council, Central Tree Care, Re:vibe Ltd, Circle of Friends Day Nursery and Nuneaton Fitness & Wellbeing Centre.

On Sunday May 10th the winners of the Children Today Art Competition “Through the Window” were announced at Castle Galleries in Leamington Spa. All entrants were invited to a reception at the Gallery where all Highly Commended entries were on show and shortlisted for the final judging.

Locally based published artist, Louis Sidoli, judged the competition and was highly impressed by the quality of the work, saying ”There have been some extremely interesting interpretations of the theme.”

James Plaskitt MP kindly supported the charity again and presented certificates to the prize winners:

Adult category: 1st prize - Tom Starley, 2nd prize - Eve Payne
10-16 yrs: 1st prize - Gail Williams, 2nd prize - Ellie Garden

Emma Fawcett, Regional Fundraising Manager said, “We were very impressed with the quality of the entries for this competition. Gail Williams particularly thought very hard about the theme and her portrayal of a disabled child watching the world go by “through his window” was very moving and exactly the kind of thing the charity works to help change by funding vital equipment for disabled children in the area.”

Adam De la Salle Tubbs, gallery manager, said, “We are delighted that Castle Galleries could be involved in this competition, not just to help raise money for this wonderful cause but also to encourage local artists.”

All photographs are coutsey of Storm Studios, Leamington Spa.