Charity/voluntary

A CHARITY show has completely sold out thanks to the support of a television actress from Northwood.

Jean Heard, star of The Bill, Grange Hill and No Sex Please - We're British, is topping the bill for the Rotary Club of Elthorne Hillingdon's gala fundraiser.

The event, which takes place at end of February, is being held in aid of Rotary's $200million Gates' Challenge, to eradicate the world from polio.

TWO friends are bracing themselves for altitude sickness, subzero temperatures and extreme exhaustion as they climb one of the world's most formidable mountains for charity.

David Stern and Clive Newman, both of Moor Park, will tackle Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest peak in Africa, to raise money for the Lynda Jackson Macmillan Centre, at Mount Vernon Hospital in Northwood.

A HOSPICE is calling on more than 1,000 women to march the streets of Northwood at midnight to help raise £50,000.

Michael Sobell House, which provides specialist palliative care for patients with terminal illnesses, is launching its Ladies in the Night Walk, to take place in June.

The event aims to bring women of all ages and fitness levels together to have fun while collecting much-needed funds for the charity.

CHRISTMAS came early for children at a holiday play scheme after a kind hearted company in Rickmansworth handed out presents at Watford Mencap Children's Centre.

Kaylee Chapman and Eddsie Jenkins from Vocalink in Homestead Road delivered toys donated by employees yesterday (22).

The gifts will benefit all children who use Watford Mencap's facilities after school, on Saturdays and during holidays.

A NORTHWOOD hair salon raised more than £1,000 to contribute towards a seven-year-old girl's lifesaving cancer treatment.

Earth Hair, in Pinner Road, held a special open day on Sunday, December 20, to raise money for Robyn Higgins, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of the disease, in May.

Robyn, who lived in Ruislip and formerly attended Sacred Heart Primary School, in Herlwyn Avenue, before moving to Surrey last year, needs at least £300,000 for her treatment, which is only available in America.

A FUNDRAISING event will take place to send a seven-year-old girl to America for critical cancer treatment.

Earth Hair salon in Pinner Road, Northwood, will host a special open day on Sunday, December 20 in aid of Robyn Higgins, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of the disease, in May.

Robyn, who used to live in Ruislip before moving to Surrey last year, needs £300,000 for the treatment.

As well as hairstyling there will be tarot reading and a small selection of items for sale, including belts and jewellery, at the salon.

For further information call 01923 821 555. To donate to Robyn, call Mrs Higgins on 07862 702 283 or visit www.justgiving.com/robyn-appeal.

A competition to reveal the hidden talent of staff, volunteers and supporters of Michael Sobell House will take place on Sunday (6).

MSH's Got Talent will feature singing, belly dancing and poetry. A panel of judges will choose the winner.

The event takes place at 6.30pm at Olwen Bettesworth Hall, Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, HA6 2RN. Tickets cost £5 with all proceeds going to Michael Sobell House.

Call 01923 844152 for more information. To enter the competition, email Carol Weston on c.weston519@btinternet.com.

A CHARITY raffle will continue the fundraising efforts of two cyclists who lost their lives on a round-the-world tour.

Karen Puddifoot, 27, of Northwood, and Tim Roney, 21, of Rickmansworth, drowned when the boat they were were travelling on sank in the South China Sea, off the coast of Vietnam, after a sudden storm in September.

Just three months earlier, the pair cycled across Europe and Scandinavia with Karen's brother, Chris, to raise money for the British Lung Foundation.

Northwood Missionary Auctions will be holding its next charity auction tomorrow (7) at Fairfield, Windsor Close, Northwood Hills.

NMA has been supporting Christian Charities for 40 years and holds twice yearly sales of donated items with the full hammer price being sent to donors' nominated Christian charities. Many valuable antique and collectible items are offered for sale and the full catalogue with pictures can be viewed on the NMA website - www.nmauctions.org.uk.

The viewing of lots will take place between 10.00am and 12.15pm with the sale starting at 2.15pm. Also in the morning between 10.00am and 12 noon there is a grand sale of bric-a-brac and books, with many bargains to be had.

A DIGITAL greetings card company in Northwood is encouraging people to dig deep into their pockets when they send messages to their loved ones.

CharityGreetings.com has developed an identical copy of the traditional paper card, with one fundamental difference - every card sent will raise a minimum of £1 for a charity of the sender's choice.

More than 100 charities have signed up to the scheme, including the Paul Strickland Scanner Centre in Northwood, the Lee Smith Foundation in Wembley, and the National Animal Welfare Trust, based in Watford.