Derbyshire help kids fundraiser

Derbyshire have stepped in to save the day for Derwent Community School’s annual fundraising event – Dawdle for Derwent 2007.

The annual sponsored walk by the students to raise funds for school trips and extra-curricular activities was in doubt this year as their previous location, Derby Racecourse, is undergoing redevelopment.

But Derbyshire have made the event possible by promising to host 250 children who will swarm the County Ground on Friday 23 March.

Staring at 1:30pm, the children aged between three and eleven will walk the perimeter of the field hoping to raise over £500 towards school visits and extra activities.

And they have been immediately boosted by Derbyshire's donation of £200 to the fund on the day.

The name of this year’s event will be Pootle round the Pitch and members of the press would be welcome at the ground to cover the story.

Derbyshire Head of Commercial, Keith Loring, said: “We are keen to break down any barriers that may exist between the Club and the local community and hosting this event is an illustration of that.

“Derbyshire CCC is now a thriving organisation and we want the local community to know that we are approachable, amenable and relishing the prospect of getting involved in community activities.

“If 300 children want to come here to raise money for their school, the club could not be more delighted to have them and we would be similarly delighted to help other community ventures in the future.”

Derwent Community School headteacher, Frances Glaze, added: “We have enjoyed working in partnership with Derbyshire County Cricket Club in the past as Christmas at The Gateway Centre is a firmly enjoyed tradition in our school.

“We look forward to Friday and moreover to cementing our relationship by increasingly working with the club for the benefit of the children of Derwent. All of us would like to thank Derbyshire for their help and generosity.”