SEVEN charities will gain through a council chief’s fundraising campaign this month.
Chair Bear, the lifesize teddy bear mascot of Hartlepool Borough Council chairman Councillor Stephen Akers-Belcher, will be out in Hartlepool over the next couple of weeks raising cash for local good causes.
He will be in the foyer of the Tesco superstore in Belle Vue Way, Hartlepool, where he will be greeting visitors and selling his own special limited-edition Chair Bear charity badges for £1 each.
There will also be a chance for people to try their luck on a tombola at the event on Sunday, October 14, between 10am and 4pm.
He will be back in action on Tuesday, October 23, at Cook’s Corner Cafe, in Church Square, from 3pm where he will not only be selling the badges, but also books and tea, coffee and scones. Once again there will also be a tombola.
All the money raised from both events will go to seven local charities which Coun Akers-Belcher has chosen to support during his year as chairman.
They are The Belle Vue Youth Project, Central Correctors, Hartlepool Young Carers, NYPD (Nurturing Young People’s Development), The Phoenix Funsters, The Rifty Youth Project and The Wharton Annexe.
Coun Akers-Belcher said: “These are two more great opportunities to shake paws with Chair Bear and to chip in towards my seven good causes.
“I’m very grateful to Councillor Paul Beck and his wife Mary for organising both events. They are a formidable team and over the last year they have already raised over £5,000 for a range of local charities.
“My sincere thanks also go to Tesco and Cook’s Corner Cafe for supporting my chosen charities by welcoming Chair Bear to their premises.”
Councillor Beck added: “Mary and I are only too pleased to support this great cause and we look forward to meeting people at these two events.”