Soap star scoops cash for charity

Runaways charity Safe@Last is celebrating after scooping £12,500 from a TV quiz show.

Lucy Pargeter, who plays Chastity Dingle on ITV soap Emmerdale, won £50,000 last Saturday on a live celebrity special of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.

Lucy, who is a patron of the Dinnington-based children’s charity, played with her on screen son Danny Miller.

Half of the prize fund went to a viewer’s competition, with the remaining £25,000 being split between Safe@Last and Once upon a Smile, the charity supported by Danny.

Safe@Last helps the one in nine children who run away or are thrown out of home each year. 

It provides support for young people from prevention to crisis intervention including detached street work, an education project, helpline, one to one support and the only children’s refuge in England.

Safe@Last founder trustee Hilary Massarella said the charity was “thrilled” with the donation from Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.

She continued: “We are very grateful to Lucy for her loyalty and continuing support of Safe@Last. She never forgets about us and we feel very privileged to name her as our patron.” 

“At a time when we are extremely concerned about funding for some of our projects coming to an end, this donation will help us to continue to educate young people about the risks and dangers of running away and to ensure their safety if they have no other choice.”

She added “In addition to the donation from the show the awareness raising for Safe@Last has also been amazing with increased hits on our website, followers on Twitter and phone calls from people interested to find out more about what we do.”

Safe@Last is also calling for people to get involved in it next fundraising event, the BIG Adventure Challenge on 18th September at Rother Valley Country Park.

The event sees teams of three challenged to race and navigate around a specially designed course completing obstacles and collecting points to win prizes.

Competitors can choose their own course depending on their fitness and can opt out of any obstacles they find too demanding.

The course has been designed to test mind and body and includes challenges like memory tests and five legged races.

Competitors must register prior to the event. To register for the Adventure Challenge visit www.weekendatlast.org.uk

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