BUSINESS leaders from across the North West have busted their way out of jail, raising more than £35,000 for a children’s hospice.
They were joined by celebrity cellmates burlesque queen Kiki DeVille and Extreme Cake Makers’ Rosie Dummer at Bail Me Out – Derian House Children’s Hospice’s most outrageous money-raising challenge of the year.
The 16 inmates were “arrested” on Friday morning at Leyland Police Station, before being thrown behind bars at La Corte Italian restaurant in Leyland, the former police station.
Locked in the Victorian cells, their only hope of release was to raise £999 bail money – with only their phones and laptops to help them out.
The dastardly crimes committed included impersonating Bradley Walsh, uncontrollable snacking, and excessive fabulousness.
Derian House Patron and cabaret queen Kiki DeVille, who took part in the event, said: “I’m a parent of Derian House and I know exactly what it is that Derian does for families. Not just children who are with us, but for bereaved families too. It’s incredibly important that we spread the word, get people knowing what Derian does, how it’s an amazingly life-affirming place and that it needs £4million a year to function. What we do at Derian is incredibly important.”
Her fellow cellmate John Hesketh, Regional Director of NatWest Premier Banking North Region, said: “Bail me Out was brilliant. The people I was in with were a really good bunch and very passionate about the work of Derian House. I’m a family man and have four kids, who have always been fit and healthy. Sometimes you take the basics for granted, so for me it was about being grateful for what I’ve got and giving something back.”
The resourceful “criminals” not only raised their bail money but smashed the challenge raising a total of £35,138.46 so far, with donations still coming in.
Miriam Payne, Events and Promotions Manager at Derian House Children’s Hospice, said: “Bail Me Out has been a fantastic success, far beyond our wildest dreams. We like to put the fun in fundraising at Derian House, and that’s what this event was all about – as well as raising much needed funds. We are so grateful to everyone who took part – from the wonderful participants who really embraced the theme, to Chorley and Leyland police, Lancashire Police Cadets, Judge Batman and the team at La Corte who looked after us so well. Everybody should be very proud of what they have achieved.
“The money our ‘prisoners’ raised will make a huge difference to the children, young people and families who are cared for by Derian House. £35,000 will pay for the running costs of Derian House Children’s Hospice for two whole days, as well as giving ten families a week’s holiday at our ‘Derian on Holiday’ lodges; three children the chance to go on a residential activity holiday; and pay to sponsor a Derian nurse for 10 days. Not bad for a day’s work!”
Derian House Children’s Hospice cares for more than 400 children with life-limiting and life-threatening illnesses from across the North West.
It costs more than £4million to run services each year, and yet the charity receives less than 10 per cent of this from the NHS. For the remainder, it relies on the generosity of supporters.
BAIL ME OUT CRIMINALS
- Rosie Dummer from Extreme Cake Makers, of Clitheroe arrested for “baking under the influence”
- Burlesque cabaret queen (and Derian House Patron) Kiki DeVille, of Earby, arrested for “excessive fabulousness”
- Andy Clarke, from The Sports Office, Wigan, (and Derian House ambassador) arrested for “persecuting the staff”
- Lee Morgan, of Thermatic, Salford, arrested for “drunk and disorderly”
- Kristen Durose, of Red Star Wealth, Blackpool, for “crimes of passion”
- Daniel Maddox, of Evolve Document Solutions, Leyland, for “murder on the dancefloor”
- Jane Campbell and Evie Skentelbery, of Fresh Perspective Resourcing, Chorley, for “indecent exposure at a networking event”
- Graham Ritchie, of Kluio Ltd, Preston, for “crimes against fashion”
- Lachlan McLean, of Forbes Solicitors, Chorley for “excessive dithering (contrary to Section 5 of the Dilatory Husbands Act 1982)
- Katie Shepherd, of Fulfilment Crowd, Chorley, for “uncontrollable snacking”
- Chris Mahady, of Findel Education, Hyde, Cheshire, for “driving in bus lanes”
- Mark Whittaker, of Findel Education, Hyde, Cheshire, for “”impersonating Bradley Walsh”
- John Hesketh, Regional Manager of NatWest Premier Banking, for “shampoo acquisition from hotels”
- Sharon Benson, of Studio, Clayton-le-Moors, for “continued parking offences”
- Ian McWhirter, of Studio, Clayton-le-Moors, for “bad line plans”
