Local councillor arrested!

Local councillor Barbara Craig is to be arrested at Shirehall tomorrow (Tuesday 26 February) - but all for a good cause.

Councillor Craig is taking part in a sponsored arrest to raise vital cash for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

The Jail 4 Bail event is being run with the assistance of West Mercia Constabulary, and will see Councillor Craig along with 9 other local business leaders being “arrested” by the police at their place of work.

All participants will be handcuffed and led away to a place of safe keeping at Shrewsbury Castle, where they will be fingerprinted and mug shots taken of them.

In order for the participants to be released from their bail they must raise £500 each. Volunteers from Shropshire County Council will be on hand at Shirehall with placards and buckets to help Councillor Craig raise money for her release.

The Cabinet member for community services said: “I am delighted and honoured to be chosen to take part in what is undoubtedly a very worthy fundraising event, and I wish to thank all those who have supported me. This will be a new experience for me, and I’m trusting that the Shrewsbury constabulary ‘hospitality’ will be not be too Spartan!”

The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is the only national charity focusing on all muscle diseases. It invests £3 million a year in care support services, research, muscle centres, networks, information and resources. It has pioneered the search for treatments and cures for nearly 50 years and provides practical, medical and emotional support to people affected.

The charity is currently funding a one-year project at the Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Gobowen to study the use of a novel ankle foot orthosis, a type of leg brace that is worn inside the shoe, to assist walking in boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

As a reward, the participants will enjoy a champagne buffet lunch in the presence of Shrewsbury's Mayor, before being returned to their workplace.

25 February 2008