The Best Guide for the WR15 Area

WR15 news, reviews and local events in WR15 areas including Berrington, Berrington Green, Bickley, and communities in WR15. Are these places the most relevant to this postcode? Let us know!

Calendar of
Upcoming Events

Easy Access

Map of WR15

TV's Esther launches the Great British Duck Race 2009

Published: 4th June 2009 14:08

TV presenter and founder of ChildLine, Esther Rantzen (pictured) has officially launched the sales of ducks for the Great British Duck Race 2009.

The event itself, now in its third year, takes place on Sunday 6 September 2009 when thousands of plastic ducks will be launched into the Thames to race down a 1km course from Molesey Lock to the finish line at The Sherriff Boat Club on Albany Reach. The owner of the first duck past the post will win £10,000. Organisers hope to break their own world record for the number of ducks set off from one location, which currently stands at 175,000.

For as little as £2 anyone over the age of 16 can adopt a duck for the day and the NSPCC is working with the Great British Duck Race to raise funds for the charity's Child's Voice Appeal. Whilst the charity does not receive income from the sale of the ducks, anyone adopting a duck online will have the opportunity to answer a child's cry for help by making an additional donation of just £4 - this amount can pay for a ChildLine counsellor to answer a call from a vulnerable child.

President of ChildLine, Esther Rantzen said: "Did you know that DUCK stands for ‘Do U Care about Kids'?"

"It's an honour for the NSPCC and ChildLine to be the online charity of choice for the Great British Duck race this year and I am delighted to be celebrity ambassador."

"It's a tragedy when a vulnerable child who may be in danger or great distress summons up the courage to phone ChildLine but can't get through to speak to someone because we don't have all the resources to open all the lines we need."

"Anyone who adopts a duck online has the opportunity to make an additional donation which will go towards our Child's Voice Appeal. If they can donate just £4, this can pay for a ChildLine counsellor to answer a child's cry for help which may save that child's life."

Anyone interested in adopting a duck in the Great British Duck Race 2009 should visit http://www.thegreatbritishduckrace.co.uk/.

- ends -

Notes to Editor:

For further information or questions about please contact Dawn Bailey, NSPCC Divisional Communications Officer on 01293 651852 / 0797 741 1884 or email dawn.bailey@nspcc.org.uk

Out of hours mobile: 07966 527987

For further information about the event and the NSPCC please contact Danny Crabb on 020 7650 3323 or email: dcrabb@nspcc.org.uk

For more info on The Great British Duck race, please visit http://www.thegreatbritishduckrace.co.uk/

Child's Voice Appeal

The NSPCC Child's Voice Appeal was launched in September 2008 and aims to raise £50 million in order to pay for the expansion and development of both the charity's ChildLine service and the NSPCC Helpline.

The funds will mean that ChildLine's volunteers can answer over 1 million calls every year and also enable the charity to introduce online counselling via ChildLine, and a text service over the coming months. Likewise, the appeal will enable the NSPCC to expand its NSPCC Helpline in order to protect babies, toddlers and other vulnerable children who can't call for themselves. The UK Government has pledged £30m over four years towards the expansion of the helplines, but the NSPCC needs the support of the public to raise a further £50m, through the Child's Voice Appeal, to make its vision a reality.

About the NSPCC

The NSPCC is the UK's leading children charity specialising in child protection and the prevention of cruelty to children. The NSPCC's purpose is to end cruelty to children FULL STOP. Its vision is of a society where all children are loved, valued and able to fulfil their potential. The NSPCC runs projects and services across the United Kingdom and Channel Islands, including ChildLine, the UK's free, confidential 24-hour helpline for children and young people. The NSPCC helps over 10,000 children and their families every year.