A great family fun day was had by all at Daisy Chain’s annual Open Day despite the weather.
There were lots of new activities on offer this year as well as the traditional entertainment and the petting farm open to visit.
The autism support charity at Calf Fallow Farm only opens its gates to the public twice a year making the annual Open Day a hugely popular community event which also helps to raise funds to support families affected by autism.
Thanks to sponsorship from Newcastle Building Society and ongoing support from players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, Daisy Chain was able to introduce new features this year including have-a-go sessions, a Dog Show to discover the speediest sausage eater and the pooch with the waggiest tail plus the Daisy Chain Charity Superstore Market Street.
Neeraj Sharma, Daisy Chain chief executive, said: ‘This is an important community event in our calendar when we open Daisy Chain to the public and they can come and see the work we do with families affected by autism as well as enjoy the farm facilities. We want to continue to grow the event and offer lots of fun and entertainment for our visitors.
‘It was wonderful to see so many people enjoying themselves as well as fundraising. We support 2,300 families across the Tees Valley so we rely on the generosity of communities and individuals to support our fundraising activities.’
Andrew Haigh, Newcastle Building Society’s chief executive, added: ‘We have a fantastic relationship with Daisy Chain, and I’m pleased that as the region’s largest building society we can support such a high impact charity as part of their May Day event. It’s a great opportunity for local people to see at first hand the valuable contribution Daisy Chain plays in the lives of families affected by autism across the Tees Valley.’