AN INTERNATIONAL children’s charity based in the North-East is celebrating a financial boost thanks to the help of some big names from the world of sport and entertainment.
Among the guests at a glamorous fundraising dinner for Comrades of Children Overseas (Coco) were Olympic champions Lord Sebastian Coe, Denise Lewis and Sally Gunnell.
Other world champions, former world record-holders and major event medal winners, included Paula Radcliffe, Brendan Foster, Steve Backley, Mark Foster, Colin Jackson, Sharron Davies, Kriss Akabusi, John Regis, Dave Moorcroft and Leon Taylor.
An Audience with Daly Thompson at the Royal Garden Hotel, in London, raised over £30,000 raised for Coco – co-founded 15 years ago by world champion athlete and BBC commentator Steve Cram.
The Newcastle-based charity works with communities in remote regions of the developing world to alleviate the poverty that prevents children’s education.
Coco focuses on small, sustainable, community led initiatives that can make a big difference at a local level, and has raised and invested over £3m since its foundation.
Mr Cram said: “I’m over the moon with the total raised for Coco in just one night and we’re hugely grateful to everyone who supported the event.
“It was great fun celebrating some of Daley’s greatest, and most controversial, moments."
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