By Alexandra Pereira
A CHILDREN’S swimming school held an annual charity pyjama event with the aim of raising £3,000 for local causes.
The Wakefield branch of Puddle Ducks asked children from two months old to 10 years to get sponsored for wearing their pyjamas to their swimming classes.
Faye Burrell, the manager of Puddle Ducks said: “We run a pyjama party week three times a year during our lessons.
“All of our classes have a water safety element to them every week, but our Pyjama Week gives all our swimmers a regular session where the babies and children are exposed to what it might feel like to be in the water with their clothes on.”
Last year the event managed to raise £2,829, which was split between two charities Sunshine and Smiles – Leeds Down Syndrome Network, and Star Bereavement Wakefield.
This year organisers are hoping to raise more than they did last year – currently on the Just Giving page they have set
a target of £3,000.
Ms Burrell said: “I asked for our customers to nominate charities close to their heart on our Facebook page. We then ran a poll for the one with the most likes to win.
“However, two charities got a lot of support so I checked that both were ok with sharing, and they were absolutely delighted.”
The week-long event which ran from November 7 to 13, is set to raise money for The Good Will Cause and Wakefield and District Down’s Syndrome Support Group.
The Good Will Cause was set up in in honour of William Woods who died aged five, after a battle with a rare and aggressive form of cancer called Burkitt lymphoma.
The Wakefield and District Down’s Syndrome Support helps provide children and adults with Down’s syndrome and their families with a support network, as well as giving out information.
Andrea Arnold, secretary for the Wakefield and District Down’s Syndrome Support Group said: “We are so thrilled to have been selected as one of the charities to benefit from Puddle Ducks’ fabulous fundraising week, and we wish lots of luck to everyone taking part in the challenges.”
To donate to these charities go to https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/PJPartyPDWakefield