A POPULAR pub proved it was at the heart of the community when it helped a local charity boost its funds depleted by the pandemic.

Bosses at The Blackbird, in Ponteland, recently hosted the Great North Darras Run – a 13.1-mile route around the estate – in aid of St Oswald’s Hospice.

And the £300 raised by the charity’s senior chef, David, also known as Dave the ‘Original Fridge Man’ Taylor, was then doubled by the pub’s owner, Stuart Young.

Along with matching the donations made to David’s team of runners, Stuart has also added two of the hospice’s collection boxes to the bar and its sister venue, the Northumberland Arms, in Felton.

Customers who arrive at either venue without a mandatory face mask and are given one by staff are encouraged to make a voluntary donation to the charity.

“Dave did a brilliant job of living up to his name by completing the Great North Darras Run while carrying a fridge on his back, so we were more than happy to double the total of the fundraiser”, said Stuart Young, of the Northumberland Pub Co, which owns both venues.

“Although the Great North Run couldn’t go ahead as it usually would, it is fantastic that so many groups are making the effort to plan their own versions so that charities don’t miss out this year.

“St Oswald’s Hospice is an incredible organisation, and we hope our contribution can help them continue to deliver their vital services to those in the region who need it.”

The generous donation comes as the annual Ponteland Wheelbarrow Race, which both starts and ends at the Blackbird and usually raises funds for St Oswald’s Hospice and Tynedale Hospice at Home, has been cancelled.

The Ponteland Wheelbarrow Race has been a popular event in the town for over 700 years, with its history believed to date back to the early 1300s when the Lord of the Manor encouraged residents to scour the countryside to survive a particularly harsh winter.

Nowadays, the event is organised each year by Ponteland 41 Club and Ponteland Rugby Club.

Danielle Harvey, events and corporate fundraising manager at St Oswald’s, said: “The Great North Darras Run has been an extraordinary challenge.

“It’s been lovely to see the people of Ponteland come together and support each other and St Oswald’s, once again.

"Having Stuart, from the Blackbird, donate £300 to this challenge is such a generous offer.

“We want to say a huge thank you to everyone at the Blackbird for accommodating this challenge, helping Dave and the team fundraise, and also for creating awareness about the hospice.

“It’s such a selfless act, which will really help the patients and families using St Oswald’s Hospice right now.”

St Oswald’s hospice provides care to adults and children with life-limiting conditions.