ON Friday 24th, local shops and businesses around Monmouthshire helped to raise money for Red Nose Day (RND).

The children of Ysgol Gymraeg y Ffin in Caldicot enjoyed various activities for Comic Relief, including a comedy competition where each child told a joke within their class and the best joke from in each class was performed by that child at a special comedy assembly on Friday afternoon.

One pupil Jayden went an extra step, quite literally, when together with his mum Cat, they arranged a personal sponsored walk across the Severn Bridge on 26th March. The pair seen below as super Mario and an oompa loompa, raised an amazing £375 between them for comic relief.

Chepstow School was a hive of musical activity on Friday as students and teachers were challenged to ‘lip sync’ battles and live music was performed by pupils during break and lunch times.

Meanwhile, their counterparts in Caldicot’s Durand Primary School raised more than £200 selling red noses in the weeks leading up to the day.

Pupils at Cross Ash School paid £1 for the privilege of dressing in red for Red Nose Day and with a PTFA organised Mother’s Day plant sale, the school raised more than £130.

The team at Specsavers in Monmouth organised a charity bake sale in their store and for the past six weeks have been selling novelty red glasses, which sold out completely. Parrys Estate Agent had a prize going for the person able to guess the number of mints in a jar and they also held an afternoon tea for their customers in order to raise money. Oxfam have been selling all of the Red Nose Day merchandise, including red noses, badges, wristbands and pens.

Comic Relief have projects across both the UK and Africa, tackling poverty and injustice. The five main issues they focus on are immunisation, mental health, vulnerable young people, domestic violence and fighting malaria. All funds raised are equally split to helping those in need in the UK and across the world in Africa.