HE'S done it!Olympic champion Sir Steve Redgrave has secured a £1,000 donation to The Evening Star's Let Them Play Christmas appeal by using all the skill that helped him be the best to beat the clock in a rowing challenge.

HE'S done it!

Olympic champion Sir Steve Redgrave has secured a £1,000 donation to The Evening Star's Let Them Play Christmas appeal by using all the skill that helped him be the best to beat the clock in a rowing challenge.

Sir Steve wowed the crowds gathered in Ipswich's Cromwell Square by rowing the required distance in less than 30 seconds and sealing the £1,000 donation.

The challenge had been organised by town centre firm Call Connection, which launched its newly redeveloped headquarters, Saxon House, yesterday.

The five-time Olympic gold medallist was the guest of honour at a corporate luncheon held to mark the launch of the new building.

He arrived at St Joseph's College in Ipswich in grand style in a helicopter, which was also carrying Call Connection's managing director Graeme Kalbraier.

Hoards of enthusiastic students were waiting to welcome him to town and Sir Steve was bowled over by the response.

He told The Evening Star: “It was a great reception. The last time I came here was in 1984 so it's good to be back.”

Mr Kalbraier offered to make the donation to the Let Them Play appeal after hearing about our bid to resurface the children's play area at Ipswich Hospital.

He said: “It's fantastic. I'm all for it.

“Children that are in hospital should get the chance to exercise but also children who are around the hospital with their families for whatever reason should have the chance to play as well.”

The play area is in urgent need of a revamp otherwise it could become too unsafe to use. Resurfacing will cost £30,000.

The Evening Star's appeal aims to raise that money and give the children's ward the best Christmas present they have ever had.

Call Connection's entire call centre workforce of more than 100 people and more than 100 business partners gathered outside Saxon House to watch Sir Steve complete the rowing challenge.

It was the highlight of a packed day of events to mark the end of the £3million refurbishment of the building.

Weblink: www.callconnection.com

To make a donation to our appeal make cheques payable to 'Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust Let Them Play' and send them to The Directorate of Child Health, Ipswich Hospital, Heath Road, Ipswich, IP4 5PD.

Tell The Evening Star about your fundraising efforts by writing to Sarah Gillett, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, emailing sarah.gillett@eveningstar.co.uk or calling Sarah on 01473 324791.