Radio Cracker

With cancellations of many functions and activities caused by the weather and pessimistic forecasts based on the current financial situation, there was an audible gasp of delight when the cheque was unveiled and showed the total to be £68,750.

That amount, however, continues to rise and now tops £70,000.

A spokesperson for the the charity said: “Cracker board members are obviously delighted that the provisional amounts for this year’s chosen charities look likely to be met and literally hundreds of people in the Third World will be helped because of the generosity of the Ballymena people”.

Cracker President Jack Adams said: “It would be impossible to name all the fundraising efforts that contribute to the total.

“Two that are ongoing and that bring in thousands of pounds are the craft classes who meet together to make goods that are sold at Christmas in the Cracker Shop, and, the other is the amazing collections of loose change that are accumulated by many individuals and brought in to Cracker in a variety of boxes, bottles and plastic bags.

“On top of that there is a sizeable donation from the Ballymena Times, the Newsletter and their parent company, Johnston Press,” he said.

* Ballymena Academy will be the venue on January 14 for a concert by Seven Towers Male Voice Choir in aid of Radio Cracker.

Doors open at 8pm for the event. Admission £7.50 with proceeds in aid of Third World Relief and Development Work.