York prepares for Red Nose Day (From York Press)

York prepares for Comic Relief

9:36am Thursday 14th March 2013 in News By Haydn Lewis, haydn.lewis@thepress.co.uk

PUPILS and staff at a York primary school created their own version of the internet sensation the Harlem Shake to raise money for Comic Relief.

Ahead of Red Nose Day tomorrow, the whole school at Clifton Green Primary school took part in their own version of the dance, aiming to raise £250 for the charity.

The Harlem Shake is a dance sensation that has gone global over recent months, with thousands of variations appearing online.

Clifton Green’s 30 seconds of mayhem sees Yorkie the Lion from York City Football club, Norris the Knight from York City Knights, as well as mascots from two local York charities – SNAPPY and York Lions – pulling some extraordinary moves. Some of the children and staff donned funny wigs and hats and danced around with smiles on their faces.

John Hattam, from the school, said: “We had great fun putting the video together and we hope it will raise a smile from all who view it. We’d love it if you were able to spare a few pennies towards this great cause.”

See the video at cliftongreenprimary.co.uk/the-clifton-shake and donate online at justgiving.com/cliftongreenprimary

Meanwhile, Thomas the Baker brought a children’s fairytale to life by sending a giant gingerbread man on to the streets of York.

Jimmy the gingerbread man gave shoppers a run for their money as he sold the bakery’s special edition red-nosed gingerbread men, in return for donations. Thomas’s has also launched a special edition red-nosed jammy biscuit and a giant red-nosed marshmallow biscuit, available in their shops this week, with all the proceeds donated to Comic Relief.

Monks Cross Shopping is raising money by holding a cake stall and through the sale of Red Nose T-shirts at TK Maxx. The management team will be wearing red clothes and getting their faces painted red by Hobbycraft staff.

Centre manager Katherine Sharp said: “We saw Red Nose Day as a great opportunity to get all the retailers together, have some fun and raise some much needed money.”

The cake sale starts at 10am tomorrow in the information centre, between New Look and BHS.