Colchester invaded by heroes and villains (From Gazette)

Colchester invaded by heroes and villains

3:00pm Monday 20th August 2012 in Colchester By Lorraine Price

HEROES and villains took over Colchester as part of a fundraising spectacular.

Darth Vader met Batman with the Doctor and Jack Sparrow making an appearance as the second Invasion Colchester took place on Saturday.

The event is the brainchild of Simon Leonard, who suffered organ failure in January last year after a severe bout of swine flu.

He was taken to Colchester General Hospital, then transferred to a specialist unit at the Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, where he recovered and has since wanted to raise money for the medics who saved his life.

This year’s event was raising cash for the Invicta Foundation, Colchester Community Voluntary Services and Colchester Hospitals Charity.

Mr Leonard said: “I want to thank the special guests and costumers, braving the hottest day of the year in full gear, and the fantastic network of volunteers with the most important job of all – collecting the money for our great causes.”

Kerrie Williams, the event organiser, added : “It was fabulous. We had about 80 characters, and we raised £1,493.

“We had zombies, Jack Sparrow, Sweeney Todd, the Doctor and the Tardis, Batman, and even a man dressed as an alien.

“It was a fantastic day and thanks have to go to everyone involved as they all gave up their time for free – some Ghostbusters came all the way from Yorkshire.”