Rolling out the barrels for muscular dystrophy charity
IF YOU witnessed people in fancy dress pushing a barrel through the streets of Teesside on Saturday, it wasn’t your eyes deceiving you – it was the annual barrel push.
The event returned to Billingham on Saturday with more than 150 locals taking part in a fancy dress bar crawl in hopes of raising vital funds for charity.
This year, locals rallied to raise money for the Duchenne charity.
The leading Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) charity connects scientists, the pharmaceutical industry, the NHS and families to advance and accelerate medical research, while bringing everyone affected by DMD the care and support they need.
The route consisted of eight Billingham pubs, party-goers split into teams and pushed a barrel around their hometown – Whilst enjoying a drink or two along the way! All those taking part paid a £2 entry fee, which will be going to the Duchenne charity.
The route started at the Merlin, and travelled to the Owington Farm, then the teams made their way to the Wellington Inn, shortly after making it to the Kings Arms. The next was the Swan, where those still standing made their way to the Crafty cock, over to the Astronaut. Then the Lion and finished back off at the Merlin.
The annual barrel push was arranged by Graham Wood, who has been organising the Billingham Barrel Push since 2013. With the help of Sara Cuthbert, landlady of the Merlin, and Tania Sixsmith, manager at the Owington Farm, the day was set.
Graham, 58, is no stranger to raising money for charity. He has been organising events like this since 2009 for loads of different charities. The father-of-two said: “I try to make the event bigger and better every year, some years we have live music in a few of the pubs. It’s an absolutely cracking day.
“The original barrel push started either late 1970s or very early 1980s, no one is really sure. It was started by the landlord of the Merlin pub in Billingham to help raise funds for Beverly School for deaf children. I rekindled it after about 10 years of it not taking place.”
He said they were hopeful of raising more than £2,000 from this year’s event.