South West public energy splits between children's charities and a dragon-naming contest this week

Two charity efforts supporting children were reported in the South West this week. The Weston Mercury reported that the Beach'd Buoys Shanty Crew raised £7,000 for Children's Hospice South West through performances across Weston-super-Mare and Somerset [3]. BBC Bristol reported that Patrick Turton, a nurse, is running 380 miles from Truro to Bristol, stopping at baby units across the South West [6].

The same week, public attention also went to a commercial contest: GWR said its competition to name a new plushie dragon Brunella attracted thousands of entries from across the South West [1], [2], [4], [5]. The contrast shows community participation in the region taking both charitable and consumer forms — money and performances directed to a children's hospice and neonatal units, alongside mass entries for a rail operator's merchandising tie-in.