Seamus McDonagh as Mr Bananas. Picture by Robin Crossley.
THE ISLE of Wight turned yellow on Friday in aid of the Earl Mountbatten Hospice’s annual 'Go Yellow’ fundraising day.
There was a gorilla handing out bananas at the Sainsbury’s superstore, Newport, while Arreton Old Village took Brian the Hospice Banana for a half-marathon wander around the Isle of Wight and staff at Co-op stores donned yellow all day as part of the fundraising drive.
Go Yellow day is now in its fourth year with one of the biggest and most enjoyable parts of the day being the Go Yellow business competition sponsored by Isle of Wight Radio.
The station, which kicked off the event with a live broadcast from Sainsbury’s car park, offered £1,000 of free advertising to the best, funniest and most original way by a business of getting people to donate cash.
Among the other firms and organisations taking part in the day were Central Garage Citroen on the Dodnor Industrial Estate, Newport which lent the hospice fundraising team a yellow Citroen to tour the Isle of Wight with, Ryde Academy, which turned their in-school newsletter yellow for the day and the Rhythm Time Isle of Wight music group who made music using yellow instruments.
The Steamer Inn, Shanklin joined in the fun by having a special 'Go Yellow’ menu and the Tesco Extra store hosted a huge fundraising raffle and put on music for shoppers featuring 'Dave B’.
Take 2 Hair and Beauty Salon, St James Street, Newport also greeted clients with yellow cakes and stopped work to have a Go Yellow tea party in the afternoon.
Reporter: davidn@iwcpmail.co.uk