A CHARITY raffle to win a giant chocolate bunny which was shelved due to the first Covid-19 lockdown has been resurrected in an effort to support a scheme to provide care packages to those in need across the dale.
Each year, Barnard Castle-based Chocolate Fayre runs a draw to win a giant Easter bunny, with proceeds going to a local good cause.
However, with the country plunged into Covid lockdown before Easter, this year’s fundraiser couldn’t go ahead as planned.
Now, however, Chocolate Fayre owner Kenny Walker has teamed up with staff at the TCR Hub to raffle the giant bunny and raise funds for the community centre’s care packages project.
The scheme was set up at the start of the first lockdown to support families and individuals across the dale and has continued ever since.
The chocolate bunny raffle is taking place online via the Raffall platform and runs until Friday, December 11.
Rachel Tweddle, chief executive of TCR Hub, said: “We are really conscious of how hard this Christmas will be for many of our local residents and we are determined to make sure that no one goes without.
“Our hampers will include store cupboard necessities but also lots of treats to bring a smile to those who need it most this Christmas.”
Mr Walker added: “Every year, we run a charity raffle for a local worthy cause but this year, with lockdown in place in the run up to Easter, we weren’t able to run our raffle, so we thought we’d donate the prize to be used for a good cause in the run up to Christmas instead.
“The Hub does and has done incredible work to keep those needing a helping hand due to Covid-19, fed and supported. It’s been incredible to see their hard work has continued from the original few weeks to running for over eight months now alongside trying to adapt their services to serve the community.
“We felt the Hub would be able to make great use of a giant chocolate prize. So at 60cm (two feet) tall and 2.4kg (5lbs) in weight, there’s a lot of chocolate to win.”
To enter the raffle, go to https://bit.ly/37cp67o
The winner will be announced the week beginning December 14 on the TCR Hub Facebook page and website.
To read more about TCR Hub and its food provision project, visit: https://www.tcrhub.co.uk/tcr-food-provision-2/
![A COUNTY councillor is backing a campaign to get a pedestrian crossing in Staindrop. Frustrated parish councillors in the village summoned their county council representative Cllr George Richardson to their latest meeting to discuss several issues, including the call for a safe way to cross the A688. Earlier this year their request for a crossing was turned down by the county council’s highways officers. Parish council chairman Jonothan Raper described the reasons for the refusal as “spurious” and called on Cllr Richardson to support their campaign. He added: “One of the arguments they made was there is no clear line of desire when they studied the village – well this isn’t a clear line of desire because there isn’t a crossing, people cross whenever they can. “When the lollipop person was there, one of the things I noticed was people would walk all the way down to the lollipop person to cross the road to go to the shop or to go to the school.” He added a problem of parking at the primary school is exacerbated because people are too afraid to walk their children across the road. Cllr Richardson said he had supported previous attempts for a crossing point with the first being made about 15 years ago. He added: “We went fairly well down the road with that and they looked into it. The only recommended place was where the bus stop is and to get the visibility splays, people on the other side of the road would lose their parking. “That didn’t go down well so it just died a death.” Cllr Raper said he suspected the real reason for the officers’ refusal was the cost of installing a crossing. He added that much of the cost could be recovered from savings made on not having to employ a lollipop patrol. Cllr Raper said: “A lollipop person only provides a benefit of crossing for three hours of the day. You are getting 21 extra hours of crossing time [with a pedestrian crossing].” Cllr Richardson said he would raise the issue with the county council’s cabinet member for highways, Cllr John Shuttleworth.](https://teesdalemercury.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/georgeR-120x86.jpg)
