FUNDRAISERS in the Suffolk today joined thousands across the country raising money for the Children in Need appeal.From brave hair shaving and waxing to strenuous exercise activities, events ranged from the bizarre to the sublime.

FUNDRAISERS in the Suffolk today joined thousands across the country raising money for the Children in Need appeal.

From brave hair shaving and waxing to strenuous exercise activities, events ranged from the bizarre to the sublime.

At Suffolk County Council, chief executive Mike More and managers Lee Howell, Bridget Taylor and Graham Gatehouse were due to work in the restaurant at Endeavour House during lunchtime.

Meanwhile, other staff at the county council took part in a host of other activities including a prize raffle, cake sales and a cryptic quiz.

The charity day also sent heart rates racing for the staff at Ipswich Borough Council's Customer Services Centre on the Cornhill at a planned biking challenge.

Managers and staff at the centre set off on a pedalling journey at 8.30am and were due to keep their exercise bike running until 5.30pm.

Ipswich Hospital yesterday hosted a quiz night in its Courtyard Restaurant and, elsewhere, electrician Steve Bennett was due for a hair-raising close shave after agreeing to have half of his beard removed.

The East of England Co-op employee has worn a beard for as long as he can remember.

Mr Bennett promised to keep his half-and-half appearance until at least after the weekend so that all his family and colleagues could see the end result.

Newspapert staff vowed not to stop after starting an all-day cycle.

Twelve staff from the Ipswich Advertiser sales team hope to raise more than £200 from the session, which started at 9am today and was due to end at 5pm.

They took it in turns to do 10 minute slots on the bike while carrying on with their normal work.

“The idea came out of our team meeting - we wanted to do something a bit different,” said sales manager Lesley Rawlinson.

Sharna Pratchett, a telesales canvasser, also had her head shaved for the charity and the team collected donations in buckets.

In Felixstowe, staff at the Co-op pharmacy in Hamilton Road were donning fancy dress for the day today and at Morrisons in Grange Farm Avenue staff were running cake stalls, a raffle and other activities with store manager Tony Gee and deputy manager Paul Tracey due to have more parts of their bodies waxed the more money raised.

Every copy of tonight's Evening Star sold today will see 4p given to Children in Need.

The Star pledged 2p from every purchased copy and Ipswich businessman Graeme Kalbraier, managing director at Call Connection, has matched it.

The cash will be from both home-delivered copies and all Evening Star sales outlets.

The money will be sent to the charity via BBC Radio Suffolk's anchorman Mark Murphy, who braved the pitch at Portman Road last week … wearing nothing more than a smile and a Norwich City strip.

Elsewhere, accountant Roger Beaton changed his appearance and his job to raise cash for Children in Need.

Mr Beaton, boss of accountants and business advisors Beatons Group at York House, York Road, Felixstowe, agreed to wear a skirt for the day and to take over the duties of the firm's receptionist.

He was joined by a colleague, tax director John Oakley, who agreed to shave off his beard of more than 20-plus years.

So far the firm has managed to raise £3,300.

Marketing and administration manager Louise Berrill said Mr Beaton would also be having his legs waxed today after being persuaded by an anonymous sponsor.

He would be fitting this in between his new reception duties, including making tea for all staff and visiting clients, collecting milk and coffee supplies, scanning, filing, franking, photocopying and post, meeting and greeting clients, and answering the phone.

The Evening Star wants to see you in action, whether it's sitting in a bath of beans, holding a pyjama party, or having your face painted.

You can send in your pictures and videos by mobile phone. Start your message with ESTAR and send it to 07843 500911. Texts costs 25p on top of network charges.

Alternatively, you can send photos of your capers by email to suffolkpicturedesk@archant.co.uk or videos to video@eveningstar.co.uk.