Schoolchildren nationwide are being encouraged to put pen to paper and join celebrities including comedian Ricky Gervais and TV presenter Ainsley Harriett in aid of the fifth National Doodle Day
On Friday March 7, pupils and teachers will take part in the event to raise funds for Epilepsy Action and the Neurofibromatosis Association. Prizes for this year’s event include over £1000 worth of stationary products kindly donated by BIC!
Emma Lawley, Marketing Manager at BIC, said: “We are very pleased to be able to support two such worthwhile charities. The activities around National Doodle Day are great fun and we hope that through our sponsorship of the event we can help encourage people to pick up a pen and get involved to win some great prizes for their schools.”
Judging will be carried out by actor, author and Doodle Day Patron, Maureen Lipman. Certificates will be awarded in various age categories and all winners will have their work displayed in the Hall of Fame on the National Doodle Day website.
A school pack can be ordered by visiting www.nationaldoodleday.org.uk. The pack contains flyers, sample letters to parents, promotional ideas and the Doodle Day cards. Every pupil and teacher who submits a doodle is encouraged to make a minimum £1 donation per entry.
Learning resources aimed at teachers, parents and children can also be downloaded from the site.
Football legend Sir Bobby Charlton; actor Sir Ian McKellen; and Hollyoaks actor Carly Stenson are among the many famous names who have doodled this year.
An online auction will be launched on eBay on National Doodle Day – Friday, March 7 - and will run for 10 days, giving people the opportunity to bid for their favourite celebrity doodle.
Paul Tranter, Epilepsy Action’s fundraising manager, said: “In the last four years doodling has raised more than £120,000 to help support people with epilepsy and neurofibromatosis. This year’s theme of ‘Just Doodle It’ presents no boundaries and encourages people to doodle whatever comes to mind!”
Roberta Tweedy, of The Neurofibromatosis Association, said: “Each year more and more people are taking part in National Doodle Day as it is such a fun way to raise vital funds and increase awareness for two often misunderstood medical conditions.”
Schools interested in taking part can register in three ways, by visiting www.nationaldoodleday.org.uk and filling in the online form; by emailing the organisers on doodles@nationaldoodleday.org.uk; or by telephoning 0113 210 8800.
You can also visit http://www.photoboxgallery.com/nationaldoodleday where you can create your very own doodle day products.