Adrian’s charity appeal
BETTER known as a comedian and presenter, Adrian Edmondson is adopting a more serious role when he presents a nationwide appeal for a children’s charity with a Derbyshire-based centre.
He is presenting BBC Radio 4’s Charity Appeal for national children’s charity Chicks this Sunday, which gives free, week-long respite breaks for children from across the UK from its retreat in Fenny Bentley.
Edmondson, who is a long-term supporter of Chicks, is also presenting the appeal on behalf of the charity on the same
station on the following Thursday, July 23.
The appeal is part of a weekly programme produced by BBC Radio 4 that highlights the work of charities across the UK and appeals for donations on their behalf.
As part of the appeal for Chicks, Edmondson invites listeners to remember how uncomfortable lockdown was for them, and then imagine being a child who is never able to escape their home lives, lockdown or not.
He goes on to tell the story of Elizabeth (not her real name) who was due to go on a Chicks break in April, finishing by inviting listeners to make a donation to Chicks, in order to give children the certainty that days full of fun, laughter and sunshine lie ahead. Edmondson explained: “Chicks takes children who are having a miserable time; carers who are too young to be carers, people who are suffering abuse or being bullied, kids who haven’t had the chance to be kids, and you take them out of their environment for a week and you let them be kids.
“You give them fun, you give them laughter, you give them playing about and you give it to them in the country.
“A lot of them have never been to the countryside. Never seen a cow or splashed about in the river.
“It seems so obviously beneficial to give children like that a memory they can keep forever; that isn’t the grinding situation they’re forced to live in.”
The BBC Radio 4 appeal is coming at a crucial time for Chicks as the charity continues to experience a drop in income as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Katherine Kelly, the charity’s campaigns and communications manager, said: “We have been overwhelmed by support from generous groups, businesses and individuals in recent weeks but like many charities we continue to face a challenging time.
“Our huge thanks extend to Adrian and the BBC for giving us the opportunity to raise awareness of the children who will need Chicks’ support more than ever once our breaks are able to re-start and life has returned to our new normal.
“Every pound raised is giving children hope that one day they’ll be back at Chicks laughing with new friends, having adventures and making memories that will brighten even the darkest of days.
“We thank everyone who’s supported Chicks so far for their part in that.”
You can hear Chicks’ BBC Radio 4 Appeal on Sunday at 7.54 and 9.25pm and on the following Thursday at 3.27pm.