A Bunting we will go

Bunting which lined the streets of Bury in this year’s London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay is heading for Uganda and Ethiopia in the hands of Manchester-based charity Retrak.

Officers from the Greater Manchester emergency services will use the bunting in a two-day Olympic-themed sports event for children.

Councillor Jane Lewis, cabinet member for leisure, tourism and culture, said: “We’re really pleased to be able to help out in this way, it takes re-use to a whole new level! It will also help to create an Olympic legacy as once the events are over they get to keep the street dressing.”

Two groups of 12 from Retrak are set to visit each country. The charity works with street children in Africato give them an alternative to life on the street. The charity has helped hundreds of children to move off the streets and back into their communities. For more information on Retrak and the work they do, visit www.retrak.org. The first group, made up of ten police officers and two fire officers, travelled toUganda on Saturday 3 November. The second group will travel toEthiopia on Saturday 17 November. Each trip will last a week.

Bury resident and police officer Ruth Bradley-Holt, who travelled to Uganda on Saturday (3 Nov), said: “This is the first year that fire officers will have joined the trip, following the success of previous visits which included the police. The street children we will work with have been abused and live in total poverty. I’m sure this will be a life-changing experience.”

Ruth contacted Bury Sport and Physical Activity Service to see if there was anything they could donate for the trip. The service donated strips of Olympic bunting as well as sports equipment.

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Photo from left to Right: Melanie Lampert from Bury Council's Sports Development Team, Jackie Veal (centre) Bury Council's Sports Development Team Manager and Ruth Bradley- Holt from Retrak