THEY gave the pins some needle – and organisers were bowled over with the amount of money raised.Yes, it was the great Evening Star-Kingpin bowling night and as strike after strike was made and the cheers went up, the cash came rolling in for the appeal for murdered schoolgirl Vicky Hall.

By Richard Cornwell

THEY gave the pins some needle – and organisers were bowled over with the amount of money raised.

Yes, it was the great Evening Star-Kingpin bowling night and as strike after strike was made and the cheers went up, the cash came rolling in for the appeal for murdered schoolgirl Vicky Hall.

Seventeen teams of nearly 100 people, many of them teams from businesses, took part in the evening – staged at Kingpin Bowling Centre at Martlesham Heath – and £1,214 was raised.

Team entry fees raised £340, Kingpin raised £250, Kidz Kingdom £200, Maersk Logistics £300 and a raffle £74.

Teams included five from Maersk, and also ones from Costa Coffee and Native Media. The raffle was supported by Marlborough Hotel, Felixstowe, Staples, Fitness First and Debenham Garage.

Ben Collins, of the Evening Star brand team, which helped organise the event, said it had been a great night.

"We were all thrilled with the total raised and would like to thank everyone who took part and sponsored those involved, and also those who donated prizes for the raffle, and especially Geoff Sheldrake, who came up with the idea and gave the bowling centre for free."

Each team paid a fee to enter the event and then sought sponsorship from friends and relatives.

The Vicky Hall Memorial Trust is aiming to build a sports pavilion as a memorial to sixth form student Vicky, who was abducted and murdered as she walked home from a night out in Felixstowe. The trust plans to build the pavilion for children in Vicky's home village of Trimley St Mary and it will be used by young footballers and for small community events.

n People can support the appeal by sending donations. Cheques should be made payable to the Vicky Hall Memorial Fund and sent to Geraldine Thompson, editor's secretary, Evening Star, Press House, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1AN.

If you are holding a fundraising event or sponsored activities for the appeal, let us know – and we will help you in any way we can. Please contact Richard Cornwell, Felixstowe Newsdesk on 01394 284109.