Local celebs head to jail in the name of charity

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20: PRIDE Bermuda’s annual Celebrity Lock-Up will be held on March 30 this year.

Thirty local celebrities, business leaders and politicians will be locked up to help raise $50,000 for the charity.

Judith Burgess, executive director of PRIDE Bermuda, said: “The three previous events were such an incredible success, we had to do it again.

“The Celebrity Lock-Up is a fun and yet educational way to raise funds for PRIDE, while also involving local celebrities and the community in the awareness-raising process.

“Our goal as an organisation is to enable adults and youth to learn and share solutions to promote drug prevention so that we can make our community safer, healthier, and more productive.

“We are asking for local celebrities to volunteer for this event, and we encourage members of the public to come out and participate as well, whether by posting bail for a friend or colleague, observing the celebrities in ‘jail’, or by watching the public ‘trial’. 

“As evidenced by E. Michael Jones’ attempted jail break last year, it promises to be an interesting and surprising event! 

“BMDS is sure to surprise the audience, the judge and the other celebrities with their hair-raising antics in the courtroom.”

Jenn Osmond of BMDS said: “We saw the Celebrity Lock Up as a wonderful opportunity to assist PRIDE while adding a little bit of BMDS drama. 

“One of our most memorable Pantomime characters will be making an appearance, along with a little help from her friends, at the Lock Up, before the judge.

“The Bermuda Musical and Dramatic Society is a not-for-profit organisation, and we rely on volunteers to achieve our own goals, so we aren't often able to provide resources to partner with other organisations or events. 

“We keep our members and volunteers very busy producing several stage productions every year along with the day to day running of our society, but couldn’t resist the change to help PRIDE."

Volunteers will be publically arrested, transported to jail and tried in a mock courtroom on the impact of drug use in the community.

The target is $50,000. Last year the event raised $75,000.

To volunteer for the Celebrity Lock-Up, or for more information about the event and how you can support PRIDE Bermuda, please call them on 295-9970 or email [email protected].