Newport postman dresses up for leukaemia cause

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A NEWPORT postman shocked residents on his rounds last week when he dressed up as a monkey to raise money for a three-year- old girl battling leukaemia.

Richard Avery, 37, wore the unusual costume all day on Friday after asking colleagues to sponsor him.

Mr Avery, who has been a postman for 18 years, wanted to raise funds in aid of three-year-old Ava Cashman.

The little girl, from Lliswerry, is currently at the University Hospital of Wales Hospital in Cardiff after being diagnosed with leukaemia last December.

Mr Avery, who is a neighbour of her grandmother Lisa Thomas, wore the outfit from the start of his shift at 6.30am in the Newport East sorting office and then on his delivery rounds in the Lliswerry area.

Mr Avery said he also received donations from residents on his round, raising around £150 in total.

He said Royal Mail will match the money raised, taking it to around £300.

A fundraising event was also held at the Scrum Half pub in Maindee on Friday with a ‘tarts and vicars’ night which raised around £2,000.

Ms Thomas said all of the money raised will be used towards a holiday for Ava and her parents when she is better, hopefully to Disneyland Paris.

Another fundraising event is being planned for March 2, with a ladies night at the Bird Cage in Newport.