Canterbury Oast Trust, the charity which provides opportunities for adults with learning disabilities, has celebrated raising £150,000 with its 500th Problematic Pop Quiz.
The regular quizzes have been organised for the past 20 years by Ken and Debbie Chappell whose son Christopher is a resident with the trust. The 500th quiz was held recently at the trust’s Rare Breeds Centre and marked the culmination of the astounding fund-raising figure.
Gill Gibb, chief executive of the trust, said: “Our grateful thanks go to Ken and Debbie who, with help from their friends Tony Elgood and Jim Graham, have worked tirelessly to raise funds for this charity and others. The quizzes are tremendously popular and always attract a great crowd.”
Most of the quizzes are held in the Chappells’ native south London area as fund-raisers for community groups, who are charged a hosting fee of £250 which goes to the trust.
The 500th quiz, sponsored by healthcare recruitment specialists Nurse Plus, saw 12 teams of 10 take part and was won by Division Two, who took the title from the aptly-named Reigning Champs.
Gill Gibb presented each member of the fund-raising team with an engraved award. They were also presented with a signed Millwall football club shirt as Ken and Christopher are season ticket holders, and a celebratory cake.
Gill added: “It is people like Ken, Debbie, Jim, Tony and Christopher who make all the difference to our work. The magnificent amount raised by the Problematic Pop Quizzes is a testament to their dedication. Recently, the fund-raising has helped pay for inclusive play equipment at the Rare Breeds Centre.”
For further information on Canterbury Oast Trust visit www.c-o-t.org.uk.
