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Woman bears new name for charity

A woman will change her name to Pudsey Bear after bosses at the UK Deed Poll Service donated £5,000 to her Children in Need appeal.

Eileen De Bont, from St Asaph, has asked bidders on eBay to pledge money to give her a new name, reports the North Wales Daily Post. The highest bid stood at just £30, before the UK Deed Poll Service’s chief executive Mike Barratt stepped in with £5,000.

The 37-year-old will now officially change her name by deed poll to that of the Children in Need’s mascot for a year. “They’ve pledged £1,000 to me and the rest to Children in Need, so I’m obviously really pleased,” said the mum-of-two. “The kids are relieved because it could have been a lot worse. Some of the names, like Scunthorpe Travelodge or Marge Simpson, would have been more embarrassing. The auction is still open but I’ve told people not to bother bidding because Pudsey is my new name and I’m proud of it!”

Mr Barratt said: “I was made aware of Eileen’s appeal and thought it was a very enterprising way for someone to make money for Children in Need. We donate money to Children in Need every year anyway, but thought we’d double it this year as not as many people will be able to give.”

Marc Phillips, Head of BBC Children in Need in Wales, said: “We are always amazed at the originality of people who devise new fundraising methods, particularly when the action can have long term personal implications for the fundraiser.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .