THE biggest fundraising event of the year for our Give Us A Chance appeal takes place in Worton on Saturday when a family fun day is held from 11am.

Parents, staff and other supporters of Devizes Opportunity Centre are keeping their fingers crossed for more sunny weather as months of planning come to fruition in a field off the High Street.

Rachel Pickford, whose son Izzy, three, goes to the centre and whose parents Paul and Hilary Hams run Hams Transport in Devizes and live in Worton, have been meticulously planning the day since March. There will be something for all the family with children’s characters such as Hello Kitty, Peppa Pig and the Minions from the film Despicable Me making appearances.

There will be live music throughout the day, a sheep shearing display, fun dog show, martial-arts demonstration, fairground rides, face painting and a display of vintage vehicles.

A highlight of day will come at 2pm when former Opportunity Centre mum Anita Gidley has her head shaved to raise money. She is still grateful for the help her son Reece, now nine, received at the centre.

He was born with Downs Syndrome and has suffered severe heart problems. Miss Gidley, 40, has had her own health problems and was diagnosed with a brain tumour three years ago. It was benign, but she had to undergo major surgery to have it removed and still suffers from tiredness and sometimes forgets her words.

Now she wants to undergo a head-shave to raise money for the Give Us A Chance appeal and find a sort of closure for her own illness.

She said: “I also think by shaving my head and seeing my scar it will allow me to come to terms with what happened.”