KIDS from Birchington braved heavy winds, rain and sleet to raise £195 for Children in Need.

The six girls, holding buckets and wearing only their jammies were subjected to the elements as they walked from Birchington to Cecil Square in Margate and back again.

Rhia Le-Mare was so cold and wet that she spent the next few days in bed recovering from a severe cold.

Rhia, 17, and Chloe Le-Mare, 11, Alison Cawley, Suzi Woolley and Sarah Clarke, 17, raised £95 on the walk which they added to £100 they have already raised.

Rhia has an NVQ II in childcare and wants to work with children. She fully supports the BBC's Children in Need campaign. She said: "When we reached Margate, one bloke gave us £30 because we were doing it in such awful weather.

"Cars honked their horns at us as well."

DOING YOUR BIT

STAFF at The Mortgage Shop in Broadstairs are shedding their suits and boots with the women dressing up as St Trinian's schoolgirls and the mum donning evening gowns.

Armed with collection buckets, they will then march up and down Broadstairs High Street between noon and 2pm on Friday.

Staff will also contact clients in an attempt to raise a huge £2,000 for charity.

Maketing manager Claire Jennings, 28, said: "We want to take part in the big event and do something for children. Whatever we raise, The Mortgage Shop will match it."

COME ON

ARE you holding a fundraising event for Children in Need? Send us your pictures with details and a contact number and you could appear in next week's Thanet Times.

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