Charities

Devon father one step closer to completing world-first swim to raise awareness of son’s brain condition

A father from North Devon is set to complete the final six lakes in his bid to become the first person to swim Switzerland’s ten largest lakes after his young son was diagnosed with a rare brain-attacking condition PANDAS, that caused sudden onset aggression, OCD and tics overnight.

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Happy first birthday Gemini!

Just look at her now! One year ago she was a tiny, helpless seal pup being bottle fed every few hours - she even had to be taught how to swim.

Now, Living Coasts’ South American fur seal pup Gemini moves effortlessly in her sunlit pool. Although she is not fully-grown, she’s a healthy 20 kilos, is fully independent and can stand up for herself among the other seals.

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zoo

aquarium

seal

Living Coasts

Trust's retirement “blue army” is secret weapon

A local conservation charity is using Volunteers’ Week (1st to 7th June) to recruit people who are retired or near retirement to its “blue army” of volunteers. The Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust runs Paignton Zoo and Living Coasts in Torquay; volunteers in their blue uniforms are a familiar sight at both zoos.

At Paignton Zoo 153 volunteers supported 12 departments and donated...

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Volunteers Week

Devon dad runs half marathons for little hero

A North Tawton man is running four half marathons in 6 months to raise money for Ronald McDonald House in Bristol, a charity very close to his heart.

Alana Cook & Luke Compton of North Tawton, met while both working at the local company Gregory Distribution Limited (GDL). On Tuesday 12th November 2013 at 18:05, Luke Compton and Alana Cook’s world changed forever. Kaleb Jason Peter...

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Alana Cook

Luke Compton

marathon

Ronald McDonald House

charity

Charity launches appeal for new centre

A Tavistock-based children’s charity that provides free respite breaks for disadvantaged has launched an appeal to help open their new centre, with a little help from comedienne, Jennifer Saunders.

CHICKS has been running for 23 years and supports young carers and disadvantaged UK children suffering from issues such as poverty, neglect and abuse.

The charity currently has two...

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Daleside Retreat Appeal

Planning underway for Ivybridge Lions Funday

A LIVELY day is planned for Ivybridge’s annual Lions Funday this July and organisers are looking out for people to take part.

The Funday, set for Saturday, July 4, is open to all and will have Circus Skills, Fairground Rides and a slide as well as a ‘Funtasia jungle run’.

Ivybridge Rugby Club will host the event, which is in its thirteenth year. Lion President Adam Winzer said...

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Lions International

Ivybridge

Plymouth

Don't miss the biggest first aid lesson ever

Almost 100 schools in the South West – including 16 in Devon – have signed up to St John Ambulance's Big First Aid Lesson, with less than a month to go until it is broadcast.

The free, one-hour, online first aid session ( www.sja.org.uk/bigfirstaidlesson ) hosted by television presenter Claudia Winkleman will be streamed into classrooms on Friday 12 June.

And St John...

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St John Ambulance

first aid

plymouth schools

Teenager donates cash to children's wards

Daniel Compton,14, has raised £125.08 by organising a football match at his school and kindly donated the money to the children’s wards at Derriford Hospital.

After his three year old brother had to stay on the children’s ward, Daniel decided to organise the event to give something back.

Daniel said: “I organised a football match event at my school, which was teachers versus...

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Plymouth University agrees to play enhanced role in ESRC Festival of Social Science

Plymouth University has forged a partnership with the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) which will see it expanding its role in a major national festival taking place this autumn.

The ESRC stages the Festival of Social Science every November, with the aim of enhancing public engagement with academics and social science research.

Plymouth was among the universities to...

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Plymouth woman takes on 100k walk for charity

A woman from Devon is taking on a 100k walk for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women, and is calling on others to join her.

Cindy Willcocks, 38 and from Plymouth, decided to sign up for the Blind Veterans UK 100k London to Brighton challenge after her friend Nigel Evans encouraged her to join him.

Cindy says: “Nigel tried to get...

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blind veterans

walk

Starlight create laughter on children’s wards

The Starlight Children's Foundation brought a big dose of sunshine to poorly children at Derriford Hospital today (Wednesday 6 May), when its amazing Storytellers Tour paid a visit.

The interactive theatre group, The Panto Company, treated children, relatives and staff to performances of Beauty and The Beast, The Jungle Book and The Wizard of Oz, as part of an eight week long Starlight...

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