Bingo enthusiast raises £100k for charities

Ray O'Brien holds special charity games for Bingo players

A Welsh bingo enthusiast has helped raise £100,000 for charities in Wales and across the UK by attracting bingo players to his charity games.

The South Wales Echo reports Ray O'Brien first started charity bingo games in 1985 to generate funds for St Timothy's church.

And he has recently been organising events to pay for the construction of the new special needs unit at Canton's St David's hospital, with bingo players raising £300 on the first night of the games.

Mr O'Brien runs the events with the help of his wife Margaret and has received praise from child development adviser at the hospital Justine Carter.

"He really is one of those people who has put all his energy into helping others without earning a wage himself," she was quoted by the news source as saying.

Tom Henderson, who works at a Mecca bingo hall in Bolton, recently held a snake as part of a charity event where he donated one hour of his time to the winning bidder in an auction.
 

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