A postal quiz, with entrants as far afield as China, has now raised £20,000 for Childline since its inception in 2007.
The brainchild of Jonathan Hammond, of Estate Agency, Hammond Property Services in Bingham, the Quiz raised £3,200 this year; taking the overall fundraising total past the £20,000 milestone.
The quiz tested a record 504 entrants this year, with entries being received from far-flung countries such as New Zealand, USA and China, with all money raised going towards a service that is there for children through some of their darkest moments.
Jonathan Hammond, Principal of Hammond Property Services, said: “There are a set of regular entrants who tackle the quiz each year over the Christmas period and all different members of the family have a go at it – very different from when the quiz was first launched, when it used to just be people from Bingham taking part.
“It’s now world-wide as entrants can print the quiz from our website and we then add the results after the closing date for entries. This year we’ve had the most entries that we’ve ever had. All we ask for is a £2 minimum donation.
“Every year the quiz has a different theme in which you have to match the questions with the right answers. None of the questions are general knowledge but they are all cryptic clues. In the past we’ve had themes such as TV programmes, films, literature, colours, things that go together and this year it was countries, capitals and currencies. We always ask a well-known character to make the draw of the winners – with the founder of Childline, Dame Esther Rantzen and the last surviving Dambuster, George ‘Johnnie’ Johnson having previously made the draw. This year it was retired local MP, Ken Clarke.”
Jonathan paid tribute to the vital work of volunteer counsellors at Childline, having seen for himself the difference they make to children’s lives.
He said: “When we first started the quiz, my partner at the time was a Childline counsellor and I could tell the difference that the service made. Lots of children don’t have the easiest of childhoods so it’s a cause that hits home for a lot of people. For some entrants to write £10 or £20 cheques for the quiz, it just shows how much people are behind the cause – the generosity of the entrants has been amazing.
“I’m absolutely chuffed that it has reached the £20,000 figure. To think of how many children that have been helped through that is wonderful – enabling all of those vulnerable children to get in touch with a helpful counsellor. If people could forward the quiz pages on to friends, family and anyone else who has a quizzical mind, it would be great to see it grows with even more entries and donations.”
Claire Campbell, NSPCC Supporter Fundraising Manager, said: “Jonathan always puts such an extraordinary amount of effort into his annual quiz so it’s great to see that effort rewarded with such a strong result. His support for Childline is exceptional and genuinely makes a difference in giving more children the opportunity to reach out to Childline for help when they are vulnerable.”