Visitors to this year’s Carlisle Fireshow are being asked to dig into the bottom of their pockets and support local charities.
Although the event is free to attend, a charity collection is held each year. All donations go towards the Rotary Club of Carlisle South (which donates most of its fundraising efforts to local good causes), and the Mayor’s Charity Fund, whose main beneficiaries this year are CFM’s Cash for Kids, Guide Dogs UK and Jigsaw Children’s Hospice.
Katie Jones, Charity Manager – CFM Cash for Kids, said: “We’re delighted that this year’s Fireshow will raise funds to support CFM’s charity. Cash for Kids will ensure that every penny raised on the day will stay within Cumbria and South West Scotland to enhance the quality of life for disadvantaged and disabled children through our grant giving procedure. We’d like to thank each and every person who donates, for helping to make a difference in their local community.”
Lynne Whittaker, Guide Dogs Community Fundraising Development Officer, said: “We’d like to say a big thank you to Carlisle Fireshow’s organisers and the public for raising funds for Guide Dogs. We rely on donations to continue our life-changing work, and every pound raised makes a difference to people in the UK living with sight loss. This time of year can be a stressful time for dogs that don’t like loud noises, but the Guide Dogs website has information on its website to help keep them calm.”
Natalie Bingham, Corporate Relationship Co-ordinator Eden Valley Hospice & Jigsaw, Cumbria’s Children’s Hospice, said: “Jigsaw is absolutely delighted to be one of the Mayor’s chosen charities this year and we’re thrilled to be a part of the Fireshow too as it is such a fantastic local event, welcoming families from far and wide. A day’s care in Jigsaw costs £2,126.46 so any funds raised from this wonderful event will go a long way to support children and young adults with life limiting conditions from across Cumbria. Thank you to Carlisle City Council for hosting this event and to all of the attendees who help make it the success that it is.”
Volunteers will be holding charity buckets on the entrance to the event and organisers are asking the Fireshow’s adult spectators to consider giving at least £2 each.
This year’s Carlisle Fireshow will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing. The United States’ Apollo 11 was the first manned mission to land on the Moon, on 20 July 1969.
The Bitts Park Fireshow will be held on Saturday 2 November and is set to be another sparkling Carlisle event not to be missed! The centre piece of the 40-foot bonfire will be a giant moon with a curved façade with a video projection of planet Earth. More than 2,000 spectacular sparkling fireworks will also light up the sky.
It will be the 32nd Fireshow event staged by Carlisle City Council and is organised in conjunction with Merlin Fireworks Ltd. Pre-entertainment for the event will start at 6.30pm and the Bitts Park bonfire lit at 7pm. A fairground will be open between 5pm and 9pm on Castle car park (formerly known as Devonshire Walk car park). The event will be hosted by BBC Radio Cumbria’s Caroline Robertson. Caroline currently presents the radio station’s mid-morning programme.
Fireshow is a family event and no alcohol will be permitted on site or within the fairground in Castle car park (formerly known as Devonshire Walk car park).
More than 35,000 people are expected to attend the City Council event.
