STARS from the world of sport teamed up with the business community to raise thousands of pounds for a children’s charity.

Now in its 16th year, the annual Steve Cram Celebrity Golf Day was held at Slaley Hall, in aid of Newcastle-based COCO (Comrades of Children Overseas).

Teams took in Slaley Hall’s championship course before players were joined by other guests at a dinner and auction in the evening. A total of £15,000 is expected to be raised.

The event raised money for Newcastle-based charity Comrades of Children Overseas (COCO), which would be invested in a range of transformational education projects in East Africa.

Stars from the worlds of football, cricket, athletics and TV and radio joined Steve Cram for the event, playing a round of golf alongside COCO supporters from the region’s businesses.

Among the celebrities at the event were former Durham cricketers Steve Harmison and Phil Mustard, former athlete Kriss Akabusi, double Olympic champion Daley Thompson, and broadcasters Guy Mowbray and Manish Bhasin.

Steve Cram said: “I am always hugely grateful to my friends and colleagues from the world of sport who give up their time to make this event possible, and to COCO’s amazing supporters from the region’s businesses.

“It’s a real privilege to play golf for such a deserving cause on the brilliant Slaley Hall course, and also a significant challenge.

“During the event, we are able to showcase to our guests how the money that they help raise will be invested into sustainable projects in East Africa. And how it makes a huge impact in improving access to education for young people, which in turn opens up opportunities for them in the future.”

COCO was co-founded by Steve Cram and British Army Major Jim Panton in 2000.

The charity has currently raised over £4m and works with communities in remote regions of the world that provide children with access to the education that is essential for a good start in life, investing in small, sustainable, community led initiatives.

Key projects include the Schools for Life programme which has now enabled 2,940 young people to access sustainable education in a safe environment.

The charity has now supported 50 transformational projects in 16 countries in total, positively impacting the lives of over 200,000 people.

More details on the work of COCO charity overseas can be found by visiting www.coco.org.uk.