Brackley area preschool launches '26 Bedtime Stories fundraising Challenge'

Sammie Vale, the manager of the Helmdon Acorns Preschool, launched the challenge on Monday May 4th.

She said: "Our lovely preschool is facing a period of significant financial hardship due to limited access to the finance schemes that are available from the government.

"Not one to give up in the face of adversity, I am sharing a children’s bedtime story every night at 6:20pm on Facebook in the hope that we might be able to raise some much needed funds to keep our preschool going and ensure that we can open our doors again after this crisis."

Some of the bedtime stories read by Sammie during the 26-day challenge include 'The Slightly Annoying Elephant' by David Walliams and 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' by Eric Carle.

Sammie added: "As a Mummy to two beautiful children and the manager of a small charity preschool, I know the joy that a story brings.

"Sharing a love of books is something that I feel very passionately about and I love the idea of still being able to share a story, even during lockdown.

"I am doing all of this from my living room, in my pyjamas with our mascot Acorns Bear for company."

Sammie isn't the only involved with the preschool to help raise money for the registered charity.

The preschool's treasurer, Mike Ludwig, took part in the 2.6 challenge by allowing his two boys to pelt him with water balloons for 2.6 minutes as he tried to catch as many as he could whilst wearing boxing gloves. He raised £667, and Mike's company Amey have agreed to donate a further £200 to the cause.

People can watch and listen to the bedtime stories through the Facebook page called '26 Bedtime Stories with Sammie' : https://www.facebook.com/groups/223708538927105/

Anyone interested in helping the fundraising campaign can donate to the 26 Bedtime Story Challenge through the following Just Giving page web link: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sammie-valeSammie added: "As a not for profit charity our financial reserves are small and we are losing out on the additional funds that would've been generated through several planned fundraising initiatives.

"The very sad reality is that many independent childcare settings like ours will have to close their doors for good if we do not find a way of raising some cash during this crisis and, without us, the UK will not be able to get back on its feet as parents will have nowhere for their children to go whilst they go out to work."

*A message from the Banbury Guardian Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper when you do your weekly shop.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.