Hefty sum raised by Littlehampton pool players

Five men from the Littlehampton and District World Rules Pool League (LDWPRL), slipped into fancy dress costumes to take on the challenge at the White Hart pub, in Surrey Street, on Saturday morning.

The men, who were joined by more than a dozen other players at different stages of the marathon fund-raiser, potted more than £800 in sponsorship for home-grown Littlehampton charity, Jamie’s Wish.

The pool league’s secretary, Richard Millburn, was one of those taking part in the day-long event, which finished on Sunday morning.

He said: “Every bone in my body hurts. I have got massive blisters on my feet and I’m still knackered.

“It was a really difficult challenge, but I know what got us through it were all the jokes, banter and general camaraderie between the guys.”

The day was organised by Richard and his friends Jeff Roddis and Steve Gill – who was supporting the event with a fund-raising karaoke.

Richard and Jeff were inspired to help following a special presentation by the charity, during their sons’ football awards evening, earlier this year.

However, for Richard, the fund-raising had a more poignant meaning to it.

Speaking to the Gazette on Monday, he recounted the moment his son almost died following a life-threatening seizure. He said if it wasn’t for a charity like Jamie’s Wish, his family would have found it difficult to cope.

“When my son Marshall was one, he had a complex febrile convulsion, which nearly killed him. His body temperature spiked and he needed to be taken to hospital,” he said.

“We had help from the Ronald McDonald House Charity, who provided me with a temporary flat in London, while my son was being treated at a Evelina Children’s Hospital there.

“Jamie’s Wish does some incredible things to help terminally ill young people and their families and it’s a local charity too, which I really like.”

Richard thanked everyone who took part, as well as the White Harts’ publicans Jaki and Gareth Cornford.