Youth clubs, schools, scouts and sports groups in Lincoln are among 80 good causes across Lincolnshire to benefit from a share of £43,065, raised by Lincolnshire Co-op members.

The money was raised over the last three months as part of the co-op’s Community Champions scheme.

The scheme sees every one of the society’s 240,000 members liked to a good cause close to where they live.

Every time they use their dividend card in any Lincolnshire Co-op outlets where dividend is issued, a donation from the Community Champions pot goes towards their local good cause.

The Community Champions for the period from June to September will now be awarded a cheque or vouchers for the total amount raised by shoppers in their area.

Altogether in the Lincoln area, some £14,191.77 will go to 23 causes including the 12th Lincoln Scout Group, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Lincoln Fight Factory Wrestling and Hykeham Tigers FC.

Member Engagement Manager Richard Whittaker said: “We’re very impressed that our members have managed to raise so much money for good causes in their local areas.

“Community Champions is great because it means local people can see the difference that shopping with us makes in their own communities.

“The champions change four times a year so we have the chance to support lots of different groups – if any groups out there need help with a project we’d like to encourage them to apply to be a Community Champion.”

Now this set of Community Champions’ three months is up, new champions have taken up the baton and stores have begun raising money for different local groups. Customers can look for displays in store or check the bottom of their till receipt to see who they’re supporting now.

Lincolnshire Co-op is encouraging members of local groups and organisations who need money to put towards a project to apply to become a Community Champion. An application form is available to pick up in store or accessed online.

A brave Lincoln schoolboy who is battling leukaemia at just six years of age is the face of a national fundraising campaign aimed at beating childhood cancer.

Liam Kirk was diagnosed with cancer of the bone marrow last year, and is now backing Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens, in partnership with TK Maxx.

Liam and his family are calling on people from across the East of England to get involved, and they know all to well how important breakthroughs in research are to the survival of young people.

Mum Janet Kirk, 31, said: “Your life changes in an instant, that’s the heartbreaking thing – you lose all control and you are powerless against this thing.

“My youngest was 15 months old. One of us had to be home with him, the other had to be at the hospital with Liam and watch him going through this invasive treatment. We had to keep working to keep our heads above water. It’s been really difficult juggling everything.”

Liam started to get poorly when he was four. He was suffering from stomach pains and a limp and he struggled to get to sleep.

Janet was initially told it was an infection that would clear up but Liam did not get better. She decided to take him to A&E. Doctors ran a series of test and leukaemia was diagnosed.

Liam’s first course of intensive chemotherapy seemed to work but microscopic cells were found and he had another nine months of intensive treatment.

He has also been in hospital with pneumonia and a serious blood infection. Liam has steroid-induced diabetes and is still having chemotherapy twice a day at home.

Janet said: “Liam is used to it all now, he’s had that many injections. It’s all made him very independent and wise beyond his years. His little brother Jack has lost out as well, he was used to having his mum and dad at home and suddenly one of us would be gone. Jack lost all of his security and routine and he was only 15 months old.”

Seeing Liam go through his treatment made the family want to do more to help other children diagnosed in the future. Liam’s blood and cells are sent off to help with research, and he is on a clinical trial.

Liam’s dad Phil Kirk said: “When we got the diagnosis we just swallowed. We felt saddened that we would have to start this journey. It was dreadful. We did a lot of research but nothing prepares you for how it feels.

“I think the Kids and Teens campaign is so important. Before Liam was diagnosed I really hadn’t heard anything about children with cancer. I thought it was an older persons’ disease. We need to spread awareness as much as possible.”

Liam has 15 months of his treatment left to go.

Every year, around 130 children in the East of England are diagnosed with a form of cancer.  Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens’ mission is to raise money to find cures and kinder treatments for cancers affecting young people.

To get involved, people can make donations on the campaign page, or organising a fundraising event, with kits also available online.

Gary Young, Cancer Research UK spokesperson for the East of England, said: “Cancer has a devastating impact on children, forcing them to show bravery beyond their years.

“Treatment can last for months, or even years, meaning long stays in hospital away from siblings and friends. Unfortunately, some children also have to face living with side-effects from their treatment which last long into adult life.

“With the public’s help we hope to double the amount we spend on childhood cancers in the next five to 10 years to ensure more children are able to lead happy and healthy lives.”

Lincolnshire learning disability charity, Linkage Community Trust, has announced that Valerie Waby is to become its new chief executive.

Valerie will take up her new role in January 2016 having led the Gainsborough-based regional housing association Acis Group since 2006.

She succeeds Ges Roulstone, who retires in October after three years in the position.

Valerie has worked for Acis for 15 years, joining as company accountant in 2000, and has been credited with delivering huge company growth in her role as chief executive.

Outside of work, she has served as a trustee of the Samaritans nationally and is currently a listening volunteer for the charity.

Valerie is also a trustee of the Cory Environmental Trust in Lincoln and a governor of Gainsborough Academy.

She said: “This is an exciting opportunity to lead an ambitious charity as it approaches its 40th anniversary and to help steer the organisation towards developing its services for more people with learning disabilities.”

Linkage chairman Michael Oliver said: “Valerie brings a track record of successful people and financial management to this charity.

“It’s an important task to ensure Linkage remains financially stable despite the economic climate in the public sector, and delivers high-quality education, care and support while expanding our range of services. We look forward to working with Valerie as we celebrate a special milestone and beyond.”

A Lincoln councillor has added a Birchwood Baron to the city’s trailblazing set, with the miniature model set to feature in a charity raffle.

Councillor Rosanne Kirk, City of Lincoln Council member for Birchwood ward, has painted a mini baron, named ‘The Baron of Birchwood’, which is the prize in a raffle taking place at St Barnabas Charity Shop.

The baron is decorated in celebration of Birchwood ward; it features a bear on the shield, of which there are three in the nature park, the St Barnabas logo on the helmet, a Lancaster bomber on the back, poppies on the back with the numbers 50 and 61 in recognition of the RAF Squadrons, and the whole piece uses the colours of the Lincolnshire flag.

Councillor Kirk said: “I wanted to paint the baron and decided to help a charity that has a centre in the ward I represent.

“I know Lincoln Barons have been extremely popular and wanted Birchwood to have one of its own.

“It’s a unique piece and I enjoyed painting it. I really hope it raises lots of money for this very worthwhile charity. I know it’s already proving to be a talking point by people visiting the shop.”

St Barnabas Charity Shops raise money for patient care and improved services across the city and relies on generous donations from the public.

St Barnabas Hospice provides palliative end of life care and provides tremendous support for patients and their families.

Tickets for the raffle to win The Baron of Birchwood will be on sale at the shop for a month, and a raffle date is yet to be decided.

Mini Paint Your Own Barons are now available from the Lincoln Visitor Information Centre in Castle Hill.

The mini Barons cost £9.95 each, which includes a donation to The Trussell Trust.

The real Lincoln Barons are being given a send-off at Lincoln Castle between September 24 and 29 before being auctioned off for The Trussell Trust on October 1.

All 25 stars of the Lincoln Barons’ Charter Trail, which came to the city this summer as part of Magna Carta celebrations, were reunited for one final time before being sold off at auction.

In one of the quirkiest charity events the city has seen, some 250 of hopeful bidders gathered at the Doubletree by Hilton hotel, as well as taking part in an online bidding frenzy for the sculptures.

In total, bidders raised £167,000 for national food bank charity the Trussell Trust.

The event was hosted by Lincs FM presenter Ross Garrigan, with local professional auctioneer Ian Walter of JH Walter.

Of the much-loved sculptures which went under the hammer on October 1, Lincolnshire Day, some even achieved five-figure purchases.

The Bomber Baron, a WWII Bomber Command Pilot sponsored by Pipers Crisps was the most successful lot, with a winning bid of £11,000.

The Red Arrows Baron, sponsored by Virgin Trains, also did well, fetching £10,200 and the Wings of an Angel baron sold for £10,000.

Together with Salisbury’s Charter Barons Auction, the cities raised £250,000 for the chosen charity.

Lincoln businesswoman Dawn Baron was behind collection sponsors for the trail. She said: “The journey actually started in the Hilton hotel. Lincoln BIG’s Matt Corrigan said to me when we were here for a business meeting that we have this opportunity to join Salisbury in this wonderful programme.

“I thought it would be really quirky, modern and brilliant for us to do. We didn’t know if we would get the sponsors with so much going on for Magna Carta this year, but we were committed.

“In five weeks we went from hoping that we would have ten to having the full 25 barons, representing those who forced King John to sign the Magna Carta.”

South of England Network Manager for Trussell Trust, James Milton, said: “We had no idea how this would grow the public’s heart. They are lovely characters in the street but they have become people’s lives over the last few months.

“We are so grateful to Lincoln BIG and for Wild in Art for making this happen.

“The simple, practical gift of food and support at the point of crisis changes lives.”

Ursula Lidbetter, a Lincoln BIG Director, added: “The barons trail has been fantastic. At Lincoln BIG we do fun things and what a great thing to be involved in, it’s been off the scale.

“Everywhere we’ve gone there have been families taking pictures, people looking for the codes and it’s been brilliant.

“One early morning I spotted that every baron had been knitted a scarf!

“We have to keep this momentum going. We can’t keep doing the same thing but we will do more and better.”

Thousands of fans of the characterful sculptures enjoyed visiting the barons along a special trail which was created by Lincoln BIG, in collaboration with Wild in Art and the national food banks charity The Trussell Trust.

The feature was part of a host of celebrations for the 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta.

The barons were each sponsored by businesses and organisations and each was individually painted and given their own identity by a variety of talented artists who worked closely with sponsors on the designs.

A Steampunk Baron, Squadron Leader Baron, Bee Keeper Baron and a Mayor of Lincoln Baron were among the collection.

Their popularity even sparked movements to keep them on the streets.

Hundreds of people came together in order to campaign the loss of the barons, with over 4,000 people ‘liking’ a Facebook page set up to make that barons a permanent fixture in the city.

The Lincoln Barons to Stay group and Lincoln Property Company set up a Go Fund Me page with the aim to purchase as many barons as possible to gift back to the city.

The group didn’t manage to win a baron, but raised £1,070. The money will go directly to the Trussell Trust.

Take a look back to the Lincoln Barons’ Charter Trail with our gallery here. 

Take a trip back in time:

Dog-loving runners are being urged to sign up for this year’s Santa Fun Run and Walk alongside their beloved pooches.

Registered Lincolnshire dog charity Jerry Green Dog Rescue has officially launched applications for the Doggy Dash element of the annual run, encouraging people to raise money for their cause this Christmas.

On Sunday, December 13 the 10th annual Santa Fun Run will start from Castle Square in Lincoln at 11.30am and take in the historic Bailgate area of the city.

Organised by Running Imp, the Lincoln Santa Fun Run invites runners and walkers of all ages and abilities to dress as Santa and raise funds for charities close to their heart.

Participants who would like to bring their dog along can take part in the Doggy Dash, which takes on the same course but starts just outside the castle gates.

Amanda Raworth-Hayes, Fundraiser at Jerry Green Dog Rescue, said: “The Doggy Dash is an event where the whole family can get together and fundraise for a good cause.

“Grab your Santa outfit, dress up your dog and get ready to hit the trail with thousands of other people getting into the Christmas spirit.”

Team members from Jerry Green Dog Rescue centres in Broughton and Algarkirk will be taking part with their own rescue dogs to highlight the needs of man’s best friend, especially at Christmas time.

To coincide with the 10th anniversary of the Santa Fun Run, Jerry Green Dog Rescue is calling for people to consider adopting older dogs, which often face difficulty finding a forever home.

Amanda added: “Christmas is the time of year when we need to remind people thinking about getting a dog that they are a big responsibility and will need love, care and support for the rest of their lives.

“Adopting an older dog does have its benefits; they will usually be house-trained, socialised and able to follow basic commands. Older dogs still have plenty to offer in the way of fun and companionship and are looking for their second chance.”

Those wishing to take part in the fun run can find out more and sign up via the website.

To download Doggy Dash sponsorship form please click here or contact the Jerry Green fundraising team on fundraising@jerrygreendogs.org.uk or call 01652 650886.

Red Arrows pilots will complete a 96-mile charity walk in their native Scotland before returning to start their gruelling winter training schedule.

Flight Lieutenants Stew Campbell and Joe Hourston, who have flown with the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team for the last two years, will set off on the West Highland Way on October 13.

Joining them will be Wing Commander Martin Higgins, a former Red Arrows pilot and now the Commanding Officer of the Squadron, and Flight Lieutenant Doug Smith who is the Flight Planning Officer.

Money raised will go to the RAF Benevolent Fund and Jon Egging Trust, founded in memory of Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging, who died while displaying as Red 4 with the Red Arrows in 2011.

Flight Lieutenant Campbell, who was Red 4 in the 2015 display season, said: “Since joining the team I have wanted to organise a charity event in support of good causes close to the heart of the Red Arrows team.

“Being able to combine my love of Scotland and its scenery with this endeavour is fantastic; I just hope the weather is kind and the midges stay away.”

The route begins at Milngavie, and follows the shores of Loch Lomond, passing Ben Lomond, before moving to the head of Glencoe, climbing the Devil’s Staircase, and finishing at Gordon Square in Fort William four days later on October 17.

Waving the group off at the start will be RAF Benevolent Fund Scotland and members of the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde Air Squadron (UGSAS).

Air cadets from 1730 Squadron, led by Flight Lieutentant Walter Liddell, will be waiting to accompany them along the last few miles as they arrive in Fort William.

Twitter users can follow updates throughout the walk by following @RAFRed4.

Donations can still be made for the charity walk online.

Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance is getting a new helicopter next summer.

The AgustaWestland AW169 will replace the current MD902 Explorer, which is operated by the Specialist Aviation Services.

The new aircraft has a significantly larger cabin area, which will offer space for an additional person to be carried if required, such as a crew member, doctor, or relative of the patient.

The larger cabin of the AW169 will also give our medics improved 360 degree access to patients.

The AW169 is also able to fly faster and for longer than the current aircraft.

Peter Aldrich, CEO of the charity, said: “We plan to continue to enhance the services we are able to provide to the people of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. We introduced a night HEMS service with our very capable MD Explorer three years ago.

“We are now looking for our doctors and paramedics to be able to deal with a wider range of patient cases and we are very much looking forward to doing this with the new AW169.”

The Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance first began operations in April 1994.

The non-government funded charity needs to raise £1.9 million every year to keep the helicopter flying and saving lives everyday. The air service operates approximately 3 missions per day, 1,000 missions per year. Each mission costs approximately £2,100.

With this upgraded helicopter in 2016 and the provision for additional doctors on board, the charity estimates the annual operational costs will increase to around £2.2 million.

The owners of Lincoln transportation firm Mark’s Passenger Service have invested in a life-saving defibrillator after gaining insight from their volunteer son.

Ben Hueso has attended many emergency situations as a Lincolnshire Integrated Voluntary Service (LIVES) volunteer.

Before going on to study medicine in London, he made it his mission to make sure mum and dad, Mark and Jo, installed an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) at their firm.

Mark’s Passenger Service, based in Washingborough, has over 80 vehicles and 130 specialist staff.

They offer services such as local transfers, airport transportation, disabled transport and vehicle servicing.

The new equipment now means that should anyone go into cardiac arrest while under the care of the team, help would be at hand quicker than the wait for an ambulance.

Mark Hueso said: “As a business we are located in quite a rural position but we have many visitors and staff to our premises.

“Our son had various experiences as a volunteer with LIVES and this brought home to us the importance of having and AED on site.

“We are a family business and treat all our staff as such, so once we were aware of the opportunity to purchase one it was quite obvious we had to go ahead.”

Not every cardiac arrest will benefit from defibrillation but, for those that might, the chances of a successful outcome decrease by 7-10% for every minute that defibrillation is delayed.

LIVES, Lincolnshire’s own First Responder organisation, attended 210 cases within the year ending March 2015 in which the use of a defibrillator was necessary – in 95 of these cases, the individual’s heart rhythm was restored and the emergency services were able to take over.

You can locate your nearest defibrillator here. 

Lincolnshire learning disability charity Linkage Community Trust has been awarded a grant of over £370,000 from the Big Lottery Fund.

The money will be used to set up multi-sensory library facilities to help young people and adults with education, health or care needs across Greater Lincolnshire.

The funding of £371,821 from the Reaching Communities programme will create five new jobs comprising a project co-ordinator, development workers, driver/technical administrator and a graphic designer.

Scheduled to begin alongside Linkage‘s 40th anniversary year in January 2016, the library is a three year project.

It’s hoped the project will encourage young people and adults with learning disabilities, autism, dementia and other health conditions, to gain learning development and therapeutic benefits from a range of multi-sensory resources.

Features will include a specially-adapted, fully-accessible project bus which will house both sensory room and digital technology.

This bus can travel around the county delivering roadshows and pre-arranged events to Lincolnshire schools, special educational needs’ (SEN) units and disability/parent carer groups.

It can also go to respite care centres and dementia and palliative care centres, to maximise the benefit to as many potential users as possible.

Resources will also include tactile story books, Easy Read resources, CDs and DVDs, ultra-violet products, music equipment, mirror balls, interactive bubble tubes, projectors, switch systems, vibrating shapes, light cubes, eye-gaze technology and iPad applications.

Library resources will also be stored at three Linkage sites – at Lincoln, the Linkage College Weelsby Road Campus in Grimsby and Toynton All Saints near Spilsby.

They can can be loaned to individuals, families, education, training, health and social care providers, including those working in dementia and palliative care settings.

Project Manager Linda Grant said: “The bus means that we can bring the library to beneficiaries across Greater Lincolnshire and to major events in the community.

“This will make it much easier for individuals, organisations and schools to access, enjoy and gain real benefit from the sensory resources and facilities. Our beneficiaries are often the furthest away from opportunity and employment and are less visible in their communities.

“So this project gives a massive boost to the resources and facilities available to these individuals and their families, so they can become more confident and independent.”

Lyn Cole, Big Lottery Fund, England Grant-Making Director, added: “Providing people with learning disabilities with access to specialist equipment is a typical example of a project which will make a huge difference to the lives of many.”

Owen Picker isn’t your average Lincoln teen. As a sufferer of quadriplegic cerebral palsy, he spends his days in a vast amount of pain and can no longer walk. He will be wheelchair bound for life.

His condition means brain damage has disrupted normal muscle functioning. Most people with ‘Spastic Quadriplegia’ cannot walk and their speech is affected.

It isn’t hard to imagine the difference that being able to stand again would make to Owen’s life, and he’s hoping that kind donations will see him on the way to his dream.

Owen is hoping to raise £32,000 for a new wheelchair which with go a long way to giving him his independence and confidence back.

Sixteen-year-old Owen, who is currently studying his A-Levels at William Farr School in Welton village north of Lincoln, was born at 29 weeks and diagnosed at 18 months old.

Just three years ago, Owen was in a wheelchair but able to walk short distances. This all changed however when he was faced with further debilitating surgery.

Owen said: “I was getting hip pain and the consultant stated I required hip surgery. If I didn’t have the surgery my hips would come out of the socket and I would be in intense pain and would require surgery. This surgery however would stop me from walking and I will be wheelchair bound for life.”

Owen can no longer stand or walk and requires high levels of adult support.

Despite this, Owen describes himself as “bright, funny, articulate and intelligent.”

“I am a board member of Whizz Kidz“, he added. “It’s a charity in London to help other children with disabilities to gain wheelchair skills, work experience and to raise funds for sports wheelchairs.

“However Whizz Kidz cannot help me as they are not allowed to support Lincoln now due to the NHS restrictions.

“I get very frustrated in my wheelchair as I cannot reach things I require. I would like to be at the same height as everyone else and to be at eye level and be able to access the environment and to be independent.”

Hope for Owen is on the horizon in the form of a state-of-the-art electric wheelchair called a F5 Corpus VS.

The wheelchair is not supplied by the NHS. It is an electric indoor/outdoor machine which can stand him up and drive him from A to B.

The chair costs £24,000. With insurance and extended warranty, Owen says he is hoping to raise a total of £32,000.

“The chair would give greater independence, confidence, and self-worth and also improving my well-being. I could even get a job as the environmental barriers would be removed.

“In order to raise this huge sum of money I have approached some charities and waiting to hear back from them however they cannot fund the whole amount. My mother and I are hoping that we can raise money to assist in the purchase of the wheel chair.

“Please help me in any way you can by either donating or assisting in events. This will truly change my life.”

Owen’s campaign website ‘Stand Up For Owen‘ is now live for people to make their donations and follow the teen’s blog.

A workshop teaching people potentially lifesaving CPR skills will be held in Lincoln city centre.

The event, which is supported by Lincolnshire first responder charity LIVES, takes place in the Cornhill on October 17 from 10am to 4pm.

The workshops and demonstrations aim to make CPR less daunting and easier to understand but also to give individuals the confidence to help someone suffering from a cardiac arrest.

Mayor of Lincoln, Councillor Andrew Kerry, who himself has been a LIVES First Responder for three years, has organised the event.

He said: “The main aim of the event will be to show people how important CPR is, especially in the first minutes of a cardiac arrest, when someone has stopped breathing.

“Many people are too scared of performing CPR in case they aren’t able to save the person, however we want to let people know that with as little as five minutes training they can help increase the patients chance of survival.

“LIVES works to bring the community together, and gives essential care to the people of Lincolnshire when they are involved in an emergency situation.

“However, its services would be impossible without volunteers, so we hope this event will spark an interest in local people and encourage them get involved and give the training a go.”

Stephen Hyde, from LIVES, added: “We are really honoured to be supporting the Mayor of Lincoln at this event. We hope to reach as many people as possible. Councillor Kerry’s support and passion for LIVES is fantastic, we hope he and our other responders can inspire local people to learn this important life skill.”

To find out more about the event and LIVES, contact 01507 525999 or email lives@lives.org.uk.

A Strictly Come Dancing themed competition is coming to Lincoln early next year, with novice dancers set to master the Rumba and Quickstep for charity.

Organised by St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, training for the Strictly Ballroom will begin on Sunday, January 17 at St Johns Baptist Church Hall on Sudbrooke Drive from 5.30pm – 6.30pm.

Contestants will work to perfect their routines before performing them in front of an audience and judging panel at the Lincoln Performing Arts Centre (LPAC) on Sunday, April 3.

Children aged between eight and 16 will also compete in their own version of the popular dance competition on the same day alongside their adult counterparts.

Training for Lincoln Strictly Kidz starts also begins on January 17 at the same location from 4pm – 5pm, with the children learning the Tango and Balmoral Blues over the ten week period.

A third dance programme returns in the New Year in Grantham, beginning on January 13.

Events manager Becky Otter said: “Strictly Ballroom is a vibrant and fun event that enables our contestants to learn new skills and make new friends.

“Our first ever dance competition was held six years ago and since then we have raised over £56,000.

“It brings together our community who surprise us each year with their support and generosity.

“Our professional dance teachers will be by their side every step of the way as our contestants learn the routines over a period of ten weeks. They then compete in front of a live audience and a judging panel as they battle it out to be crowned the strictly champions.

“Our finales are always a sell-out and we are very grateful to our local community for their support and generosity.”

Registration is £5 per competitor, with adults being asked to raise a minimum of £100 each and children £50 each for the competition.

Click here to sign up to the Lincoln adults dance lessons.

To register for the Lincoln Strictly Kidz programme, click here.

For more information contact Becky Otter on becky.otter@stbarnabashospice.co.uk or call 01522 559516.

A special bus paying tribute to war heroes has been unveiled in Lincoln.

War veterans joined staff from Stagecoach East Midlands for the unveiling of the visually-striking bus outside Lincoln Cathedral.

The bus, which runs on the Lincoln network, supports the Royal British Legion in their annual fundraising campaign ahead of Remembrance Day on Sunday November 8.

Poppies and wooden crosses appear along the sides of the bus, which also include memorial messages and a ‘Remembering Our Heroes’ headline.

As part of Stagecoach East Midland’s support, the company is also raising money for the Royal British Legion through a ‘Remembering your hero’ Twitter campaign.

For up to 500 people, the company will donate £1 each time someone follows and Tweets @STagecoachEMid about a hero in their life.

Over the next few week Stagecoach East Midlands is also allowing any Royal British Legion fundraiser to travel free on all their bus services.

Major Alex Carson, of the Royal British Legion, said: “I am delighted that Stagecoach East Midlands has taken this initiative to raise funds for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

“The poppy bus reminds everyone to wear their poppy with pride, to the memory of the fallen and the future of the living.”

Louise Wright, Marketing Manager for Stagecoach East Midlands, added: “We wanted to help with this year’s fundraising by the Royal British Legion and creating a commemorative bus seemed like a great way of doing that.

“It’s designed to be eye-catching to help people remember our fallen servicemen and donate themselves, and link with us on Twitter and raise money that way too.”

The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal gives practical help, advice and support to serving members of the Armed Forces, veterans of all ages and their families.

The Legion has been raising funds since 1921 and is a major voice for the Armed Forces community.

The Twitter ‘Remembering your hero’ fundraising activity runs to Tuesday, November 11.

Thrill-seekers who missed out on the dramatic Lincoln Flume will get another opportunity, as the giant waterslide returns to the city next year.

The slide will come back to Lincoln on Sunday, July 17, 2016, with hundreds of people expected to be once again in for the chance to zoom the flume.

Hundreds of people entered an online lottery to bid for their place on the waterslide, which flowed for 110 yards down Flaxengate in July this year.

The waterslide was organised by the Rotary Club of Lincoln Colonia who invited Linkage Community Trust to be partner for the flume.

More than £2,100 has been raised for the trust, which will go towards an appeal to restore Boultham Park to its former glory.

The project to restore the park is a joint venture by Linkage and the City of Lincoln Council, and includes plans for a café, greenhouse, education centre and regeneration of key areas and features of the 50-acre park.

Work is planned to start in 2016 and the Capital Appeal has a target of £250,000 to help match-fund the grant-aid from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fun Parks for People initiative.

Money from the Lincoln Flume is one of three donations worth a total of £5,300 to the appeal.

Previous Linkage President Richard Wright raised around £500 from activities during his term of office, which he has donated to the project.

The proceeds of the annual Mundys Golf Day at Blankney Golf Club in the summer generated a further £2,600 for the appeal.

Boultham Park Capital Appeal chairman Philip Barnatt said: “These are three terrific donations from businesses and the community, coming on the second anniversary of the date I launched the Capital Appeal.

“We are heading towards the next big fundraising event, the Lincoln Santa Fun Run, and a great result there will take us towards the £100,000 mark.”

Rotary Club President, Jo Owens, said: “The Lincoln Flume was a brilliant day – full of fun and laughter – and it was a huge team effort and we enjoyed working with Linkage so much that we want to do it again.”

Lincoln-based terminal care charity St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice has appointed a new chief executive after saying goodbye to former CEO Sarah-Jane Mills.

Chris Wheway is stepping into the role from his current position as Divisional Director of Urgent and Planned Care for Derbyshire Healthcare Foundation Trust.

As previously reported, Sarah-Jane Mills left to take up a position with the Lincolnshire West Clinical Commissioning Group.

Chris’ appointment follows a long career within the NHS in both Lincolnshire and Derbyshire, spanning 12 years.

He will take up his post on November 2, adopting the organisation’s drive to become a centre of excellence in taking the quality of end of life care to new heights.

He said: “I am really looking forward to starting my role as Chief Executive of St Barnabas and leading the organisation in what I believe to be an exciting time for palliative care.”

The hospice’s Chairman of Trustees, Bob Neilans, added: “On behalf of the Hospice I am pleased to welcome Chris to the organisation.

“He has extensive NHS experience and I am confident he will quickly embrace the St Barnabas ethos of innovation and excellence. I look forward to Chris taking the Hospice forward.”

St Barnabas Hospice has seen a significant increase in the demand for its services, most significantly their day therapy services which over the last two years has seen a 177% increase in the number of people accessing the service, which is wholly funded by charitable donations.

In the last 12 months the charity’s community hospice at home teams have cared for more than 1,700 patients in their own homes across the county and for over 350 people at its inpatient facilities in Lincoln and Grantham.

Chris Wheway added: “It is clear that the next five years will see wide-ranging changes in the health and social care environment.

“My aim is to be at the forefront of this change, listening to patients their families and carers, to ensure that we not only continue to provide high quality services and lead the development of palliative care in Lincolnshire but that through innovation and partnerships, we support more people closer to home.”

A programme of poignant events is returning this winter to unite people across Lincolnshire, offering them the chance to celebrate the life of someone special.

Nine Light up a Life events are taking place in the county featuring touching readings, music, time for quiet reflection and candle lighting ceremonies in remembrance.

The celebrations, now in their 15th year, help to raise funds for end-of-life care charity St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice.

During last year’s events over £37,000 was pledged to support the care of people with life-limiting illnesses in the county.

Each Light up a Life celebration will last approximately 1 – 1.5 hours, is free to attend and open to everyone, regardless of faith. There is no need to book in advance.

For those attending the Lincoln event at Our Lady of Lincoln Church, there is an optional torch-lit procession afterwards from Clayton’s Sports Ground past the Hospice and on to Lincoln Cathedral, where the Tree of Life will be illuminated for the whole community to see.

Light up a Life events taking place in Lincolnshire are:

LINCOLN, Our Lady of Lincoln Church
November 24, 6pm
(followed by the Torchlight Procession from Clayton’s Sports Ground, Lee Road, Lincoln LN2 4BH, 7.30pm)

SKEGNESS, St Matthew’s Church
December 3, 6.30pm

BOSTON, Zion Methodist Church
Brothertoft Road,  December 4, 6pm

SUTTON ON SEA Meridale Youth and Community Centre
December 5, 3pm

SPALDING, St John the Baptist Church
December 6, 4pm

LOUTH, Methodist Church
December 7, 6pm

SLEAFORD, Methodist Church
December 7, 6.45pm

GRANTHAM, St Wulfram’s Church
December 8, 6pm

GAINSBOROUGH, United Reform Church
December 8, 7pm

For the 15th consecutive year, Doddington Hall and Gardens have supported the appeal by donating a 25ft tree, which is placed outside Lincoln Cathedral.

Becky Otter, Event Manager for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, said: “These gatherings, which unite people in our community who have experienced the loss of someone special, bring great comfort and support to all who attend.

“Last year more than 11,000 lights shone brightly on our Trees of Life, each light representing the life of someone who is no longer with us.

“It is truly a beautiful sight and the wonderful thing about these celebrations is that they are inclusive to everyone within our community, regardless of whether they have a connection to our hospice.”

A newly refurbished Peugeot dealership will host a car wash event on Saturday, November 7 to raise money BBC Children in Need.

Members of the public are invited to Abacus Lincoln on High Street between 10am-3pm to have their dirty cars cleaned by the team for just £5, all of which will be donated to the charity.

Other activities are also set to take place on the day to entertain people of all ages, including a free face painter, colouring competitions, games, prizes and a special appearance by Pudsey.

The dealership has recently undergone a £500,000 makeover and a new showroom refurbishment that will display a wide range of Peugeot models.

Jason Harvey, Dealer Principal, said: “The team is really passionate about engaging with the local community, and what better way to get the public involved than by hosting a car-wash with Pudsey?

“It’s great to mark our dealership refurbishment with such an exciting event and all we can ask is that the people of Lincoln get involved and bring their cars down to raise money for a fantastic cause.”

The Peugeot and BBC Children in Need partnership has spanned three years, with the car manufacturer raising over £1 million for the charity to date.

Neil Moscrop, Peugeot UK Brand Director, said: “Our BBC Children in Need car washes have always been received so well on a local level in recent years and we’re urging as many people as possible to get down to Abacus Lincoln to ‘Get Sudsey with Pudsey’.

“After breaking through the £1 million barrier last year, the team is even more motivated to keep pushing for donations and encouraging as many people as possible to support such a worthy cause.”

Doing some fundraising for this year’s BBC Children in Need? Send in your stories and pictures to news@thelincolnite.co.uk to be included in our coverage. 

A Lincoln village primary school teacher is making his musical fundraising dream a reality after composing and recording a special Children in Need song – with the help of over 300 children.

Every child at Cherry Willingham Primary School, aged between four and 11, was involved in recording ‘Will You Help This Child?’, written by teacher Damian Thursby, 43.

Some 1,000 CDs have been produced, to be sold at £3 each as a minimum donation, and staff and students are hopeful they’ll smash a sell-out sales target.

The group have been working hard since April, singing and rehearsing on a weekly basis.

Damien has even enlisted the help of former students, with Stuart MacLaren from Your Print Partner (a student of his at age 8) printing and donating the 1,000 CD sleeves.

The CD replication has been done through Andrew Deptford from Bright Spark Studios in Lincoln.

Damien, who has been working at the school for 18 years, has been composing songs for children and church since he was 13.

He has always wanted to put his talent to a project to raise money for the BBC Children in Need cause.

He said: “It’s such a fantastic cause that I have always donated to but felt like I could and should do something more! I came up with the idea about six years ago but never quite got around to writing the song.

“The children were my other inspiration. I have worked in schools now for 21 years. Children are at the forefront of everything I do, either at work or at home with my 2 children Jesicca (15) and Harry (11).

“The song is about helping children in need across our country. It’s purposely set out as a question, challenging the public to recognise that here are children with specific needs who require our help and asking, ‘are you going to do something about it?’

“The verses are centred around the types of children the charity support. Homeless children who find themselves on the streets, children who are scared and living in family situations where they feel unwanted or neglected, children who have hearing loss and children who are ill.

“Every child has been involved as I am a great believer in inclusion regardless of ability, especially when it comes to music. Two of my year 6 girls feature as soloists in the first verse and final line of the song, but the rest is an ensemble of all the children.

“All of the recording, mixing and arranging has been done by Nick Gooch, who is a parent in our school. Without his support, we definitely wouldn’t be where we are now. He’s been superb!”

The CDs can be bought directly from Cherry Willingham School or from Stokes cafes, who are sponsoring the project. People can also visit the school’s website to find out more about how to get hold of a copy.

The team hope to raise £3,000 and all the money raised will be donated to the Children in Need Cause.

Superheroes, bakers, head-shavers and fundraisers in pyjamas rallied in their hundreds in Lincoln on Friday, November 13, doing their bit to boost donations for the annual BBC Children in Need appeal.

School children, work colleagues and groups across the county were seen donning colourful costumes and encouraging people to pledge their cash to help the cause.

Since 1980 BBC’s Children in Need appeal has raised over £600 million to change the lives of disabled children and young people in the UK.

The Children in Need telethon and appeal night goes live on Friday, November 13 from 7.30pm on BBC One and will run until around 2am.

This year TV favourite Dermot O’Leary has stepped up to the hosting plate at the last minute after Sire Terry Wogan, 77, pulled out due to health reasons.

Around 130 BT volunteers will be manning the phones and taking phone pledges at BT’s Lincoln contact centre for Children in Need.

Last year staff at the centre handled calls that secured around £70,000.

Here’s a roundup of what people in Lincoln have been getting up to on Children in Need day:

The Children from St Peter at Gowts CE Primary School collected coins to cover Pudsey with. Staff and children also came to school in their pyjamas.

LEAP (Lincolnshire Employment Accommodation Project) raised money for Children in Need by hosting their very own coffee and cake morning.

Staff and clients put their baking skills to the test and produced some fantastic and delicious treats. Lincolnshire Police and residents from the surrounding area came along to the event that also hosted a ‘Pudsey’s Playlist’ where people could request a song for the price of 25p.

Liberty Webster sent in this adorable picture of her daughter Mia, who dressed as Pudsey bear to show her support for Children in Need.

Vicki Hyland sent in a fantastic photograph of her children Charlotte and Emily with Princess Jasmine (aka auntie Aimee).

Staff at popular Lincoln restaurant Ribs ‘n’ Bibs decided to donate their entire collection of tips on Children in Need day to charity. The business has also promised to match any amount raised.

Year 7 students at North Kesteven School danced their socks off on Tuesday night at the school’s annual Retro Dance Fever to raise money for the Children in Need appeal.

Since the event began, students at North Kesteven School have raised over £15,000 for Children in Need and the 2015 total is over £1,000!

Head of Dance, Antonia Lloyd said: “This is a great event in the NKS calendar as it really helps our relatively new Year 7 students get to know each other and really bond as a tutor group. Students’ confidence is increased and after the event every child is really proud of the money they have raised for charity and for performing on stage”

The team at Marshall Land Rover in Lincoln have been cycling the total distance between Marshall Rand Rover sites for Children in Need – just over 230 miles!

With exercise bikes kindly provided by Total Fitness, the team raised funds while sweating pounds. With the added help of a cake sale, there total now stands at over £1,100!

Visit their JustGiving site here for more details.

Peugeot Dealership, Abacus Motor Group in Lincoln, has raised over £1,100 for BBC Children in Need, after hosting a charity car-wash event, with the help of special guests Colin Mcfarlane, The Mayor of Lincoln and local kick-boxing talent Shea Couling.

Members of the public gathered on Saturday 7th November at the Dealership on the High Street, to have their cars turned squeaky clean by an army of sponge wielding Dealership team members for just £5, all of which was donated to BBC Children in Need.

Amber Allen became Awesome Amber on her school’s Superhero Day for Children in Need.

Riley Gibson was the king of his reception class.

Olivia-Darcie as ‘Super Pudsey’.

Katherine Jones dressed as Anna for fancy dress day.

Danni Lewis said: “My little ones are going to school/nursery as their heroes. My eldest wants to be a teacher, my youngest daughter wanted to dress up as a paramedic. My son seemed to disappear but a mini Spider-Man appeared. Harvey will be disappointed he missed him!”

Kaylee Yelland sent in this picture of her brother and sister in matching marvel costumes.

Terri-Lea Birch sent in a picture of her boys as a policeman and Harry Potter.

Dexter dressed up as ‘Super Pudsey‘.

Ethan-lee, for hero day, wanted to be his daddy!

Kat Sampson sent in a picture of her little one in ‘Batgirl‘ PJs.

Ella as cat woman.

Lilly & Kellis doing a three-legged sponsored walk for Children in Need.

#Pudsey Bear is half way through his shift around #Lincoln today, help him raise money for #CiN #BBCCiN pic.twitter.com/pQg1AEpyXG

— Stagecoach East Mids (@StagecoachEMid) November 13, 2015