Riverside ECHG - During his Sport Relief marathon tour in September, Eddie Izzard dropped in on an ECHG Homeless Families project

30 September 2009

During his Sport Relief marathon tour in September, Eddie Izzard dropped in on an ECHG Homeless Families project

As part of his Barnsley marathon phase comedian Eddie Izzard was accompanied by a whole camera crew and just happened to stop at a pub directly opposite one of ECHG’s family project’s in the town to get some refreshments.

Seeing the cameras and a group of people, one of ECHG’s Support Workers, Lisa Walker, shot over the road and went up to them to ask what they were up to!

Her colleague, Lesley Hemingway, described what happened:

"Lisa recognised Eddie and saw the cameras so she went over to ask what they were up to. She's got more front than Blackpool and she got chatting to him! The next thing we know is that he comes over to the scheme. He asked what "ECHG" meant and Lisa explained that we provided supported housing. She asked him how he was doing with his Sports Relief and the whole while he was talking to her they were being filmed for the programme on his fundraising.

"Then as he was getting ready to go he asked if he could throw his water bottle in our bin. Lisa said "No, I'll have that and sell it on Ebay for our scheme"! So he signed it and gave it to us! Then Lisa got her picture taken with him and he left on his way."

The famous water bottle is currently taking pride of place on the scheme's mantlepiece and important negotiations are taking place on what to do with it!

Notes to Editors

ECHG is the specialist supported and sheltered housing subsidiary of Riverside housing group. It is an award-winning provider of housing and support services for both homeless people and older people. For further information please contact Susan Littlemore at ECHG on 07709 400781.