Heroes Day success

The Advertiser’s Heroes Day raised in excess of £3,500 on Sunday.

Around 2,000 people attended the event at the Magnus School, Earp Avenue, Newark, over the course of a day which was bathed in sunshine.

There were tears in the crowd as 216 red, white and blue balloons were released - one for each UK servicemen killed in Afghanistan since hostilities began.

Newark soldier Corporal Ivano ’Sean’ Violino - who died in Helmand Province on September 17, 2007 - was represented by the 79th balloon.

There were a whole host of attractions including paintball with was provided by the county infantry battalion, 2nd Battalion (Worcesters and Foresters) the Mercian Regiment, Nottingham Forest’s inflatable target wall and hydrospheres.

The Cavalier Dance Band and Filthy Smith performed on the stage in the afternoon and there were a number of performances in the community arena from Newark Army Cadets, Dean Sugden and his Newark Martial Arts, JNS Dance Company, Ice Diamonds, Holy Trinity Irish Dancers and many others.

Nottingham Forest footballers Paul Anderson and Aaron Mitchell signed autographs and drew the raffle.

The money raised will be split between Help for Heroes and the Newark Patriotic Fund.

A video of the event can be viewed now on this website. For a full report and photographs, see Friday’s Advertiser.