Company raises £3,500for kids’ charity

Funkey Monkeys, Lurgan, have raised £3500 for the Cash For Kids charity through various sponsored events including a staff head shave. Pictured at the presentation of the cheque are from left, Claire Toner, marketing manager, Lorraine Rice, owner of Funky Monkeys, Lurgan and Stephanie Laverty, charity co-ordinator, Downtown Radio/Cool FM Cash for Kids. INLM23-211.

This is because he has recently shaved his head in a bid to raise money for Cash for Kids the charity that helps thousands of disadvantaged children across Northern Ireland.

Funky Monkeys, with soft play centres across the North pledged their support to Cash for Kids day 2013 in which much needed funds were raised and donated to the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children.

As well as Mark’s head shave Funky Monkeys held raffles, competitions and the staff joined in on the ‘Funsie in a Onesie’ theme by wearing their onesie to work. In total the company managed to raise £3500 for Cash for Kids.

Claire Toner, marketing manager for the Funky Monkeys soft play café chain, commented: “We are delighted to have been able to support Cash for Kids day this year and we had lots of fun activities happening across all our centres in a bid to raise as much as money as possible for Cash for Kids and the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children. At Funky Monkeys, we love that children can visit one of our centres and play happily and safely on our equipment. However, we realise that not all children are as lucky and may not be just as care-free due to a variety of circumstances.

“We are very grateful for the support that Funky Monkeys has had in each of its areas and as part of our charity partnership with Cash for Kids we want to give something back that will directly benefit children and their families who may need a little extra support within our communities. Supporting Cash for Kids is the perfect way for us to do this and we have been getting up to a lot of ‘Funky’ fundraising this year in a bid to achieve our overall goal of raising £10,000 for the charity this year!”

Lorraine Rice, proprietor of Funky Monkeys in Lurgan added: “We are so grateful for all the continued support that our customers have given us as well as other local businesses such as Alanna Interiors and Debenhams at Rushmere Shopping Centre. We realise that financially times are not easy at the minute, but we have been overwhelmed by the generosity of our customers and the people of the Lurgan area.”

Claire concluded: “It is lovely to be able to come to work at one of our centres and to hear the sound of happy laughter and children having fun. I hope that the money we raise will go towards helping the many young people living with cancer in Northern Ireland.”

There are Funky Monkey soft play cafes in Cityside (North Belfast), Downpatrick, the Kennedy Centre (West Belfast), Newtownabbey, Larne, Dungannon, Lurgan and Junction One (Antrim).