EAGER fundraisers have already swung into action in York and North Yorkshire to raise money for Friday's Children in Need appeal.

Sainsbury's chef Danny Cartwright held a cookery demonstration at the supermarket chain's Monks Cross store to raise money for the charity.

He made cakes and chocolate teddy bears, which young customers decorated, and was helped by dancers Amy and Helen Boyes, whose mother works at the store. The two teenagers will be staging a dance show at the store on Friday from 4.30pm and hope to raise hundreds of pounds.

At Galtres Fitness Centre in Easingwold, Robert Hodge, 16, was running a full marathon on the centre's treadmill today.

The Easingwold School pupil has already collected more than £250 through sponsorship and is being supported by staff.

Manager Danny Stainton said: "He's got no experience of marathon running and the most training he's done is a ten-mile walk, so we're expecting him to take about six hours."

Meanwhile Pickering Castle custodian Mavis Jackson-Gould will be spending a night with the spooks at the 900-year-old fortress.

Mavis, who is originally from Pudsey, near Leeds, is putting in a sponsored night-shift to raise as much money as possible. Together with former castle custodian, Barbara Martin, they will spend the wee small hours bedding down in the castle's Diate Hill Tower, once used by soldiers to guard the battlements.

"The fortress will be under lock and key, so we will wrap up warm and hope any ghosts are otherwise engaged that night," said Mavis.

At Castle Howard, near Malton, employees will be swapping their luxurious surroundings for the wintry mountainside as they try to gather as much cash as possible. A team lead by estate manager Duncan Peake is joining a fell-walking trip to the Lake District on Friday.

Duncan said: "We are all ready for it and looking forward to raising as much money as we can for such a worthy cause."

Anyone who can help with sponsorship or raffle prizes should contact Natalie Daniels on 01653 648444.

Are you raising money for Children in Need? If so the Evening Press would like to hear from you. Contact our newsdesk by phoning 01904 653051 or email

Updated: 11:31 Wednesday, November 13, 2002