Cycle News Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Ulster Tops The Half-Million For Needy Children

Northern Ireland surpassed last year's donations to BBC Children in Need by breaking through the symbolic half million pound barrier.

The Province's comparatively small population of 1.7 million raised almost half as much as London's population of over seven million in the charity event.

As phone lines closed at 2am on Saturday, the UK total stood at £ 17,156,175, with Northern Ireland raising £506,065 and Co Antrim taking top honours among the six counties with an impressive £249,996.

Last year's Ulster total was £441,985.

The result confirms the Province's reputation for digging deep when it comes to charitable causes.

Throughout the day and into the evening, Pudsey Bear parties took place across the Province with BBC camera crews visiting all six counties as part of the event's 25th anniversary.

Ronan Keating, Vanessa Mae and The Cheeky Girls all flew in to perform on the six-hour television show while BBC presenters and the Give My Head Peace cast donned costumes to perform in a special 80s' concert.

Belfast youth development charity, Belfast Activity Centre (BAC), held a cycling and canoeing event with Bike Dock, raising over £2,000.

Over 150 people took part in a noonto-midnight relay of canoeists on the Lagan at Shaw's Bridge and a moonlit cycle along the towpath.

(Source: http://www.newsletter.co.uk)