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Gareth nets £10,000 for balloon fund
ASTON Villa skipper Gareth Barry was on the ball to collect the first major donation to Birmingham Children's Hospital's Red Balloon Appeal.
He received a £10,000 cheque from staff at West Bromwich Building Society, who had staged charity events including a dragon boat race, car washes, bike rides and quiz nights.
The appeal aim is to raise £500,000 towards a new multi-million pound burns unit at Birmingham Children's Hospital. The £19million unit, the first of its kind in Europe, is set to open in October.
The building society has made the Red Balloon Appeal its charity for 2007 and staff aim to raise a further £25,000 for the unit. Along with their efforts and donations from the public, it has also launched the Red Balloon Appeal Saving Account.
Stephen Karle, the society's chief executive, said: "We are very grateful to Gareth for coming to collect this donation.."
The NHS has provided £16 million towards the costs and so far £2.5 million has come from fund-raising.
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