Good Evans! DJ’s auction raises £400k for Babs’ charity
BIG-HEARTED fans of Chris Evans will join the DJ when he jets out to run the Amsterdam marathon for Dementia Revolution, the charity set up by Dame Barbara Windsor’s husband.
The Virgin Radio host, 53, raised more than £400,000 through a live auction on his show, with the 50 top bidders securing a seat on his private plane to the TCS Amsterdam Marathon on Sunday.Whether they run the marathon is up to them.
He will be joined by members of theVirgin Radio Breakfast Show team as well as sports reporterVassos Alexander, his personal assistant, known on the show as The Frothy Coffee Man, and his wife Natasha Shishmanian.
Dame Barbara’s husband Scott
Mitchell and her friend Tanya Franks will run the Dutch city’s Mizuno Half Marathon on the same day.
The 82-year-old actress, who played pub landlady Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2014.
Mr Mitchell, who married Babs in 2000, was joined by Evans and several EastEnders stars to run the London Marathon earlier this year for Dementia Revolution, a partnership between the Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK.
The effort has so far raised £4million.
Evans said: “We booked the plane, waited for the bids and the big-hearted listeners stepped up to the plate. It seemed, in no more than an instant, they pledged over £400k – we were totally gobsmacked.
“We couldn’t be more grateful.We cannot wait to meet them. Bring on the Amsterdam-busters!”
Mr Mitchell said: “I want to say a massive thank you to Chris Evans and all the victorious bidders for standing with Dementia Revolution.
“What an incredible amount they have raised to help fund life-changing research and help people like Barbara.
“Running the marathon this year was no easy feat but seeing the difference our money makes made every mile I ran worth it.”
Dame Barbara recently delivered a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson at 10 Downing Street, pleading for better care for fellow sufferers.