World-renowned polo players helped raise thousands of pounds for ChildLine at the charity’s tenth annual ‘Polo at Sundown’ event on Saturday 19 June.

Adolfo Casabal, Gonzalo Garcia del Rio, Bruno Parodi and Marianela Castagnola played at Ham Polo Club in Richmond, Surrey.  The event raised over £35,000 for ChildLine, the UK’s free, 24-hour helpline for children and young people.

The evening began with a drinks reception followed by a closely contested polo match between Castagnola’s ‘ChildLine’ team and Casabal’s ‘Jet’ team over a four chukka match.  The final score finished ‘ChildLine’ 5 – ‘Jet’ 4.

This year’s event had an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ theme. Guests feasted on ‘White Rabbit Croquettes’, ‘The Reverend Duck’ and ‘The Queen of Hearts Lemon Tart’.

TV antiques expert James Rylands conducted the grand auction.  Lots included five nights at a luxurious Cambodian hotel and tickets to watch Arsenal in the Director’s Box at the Emirates Stadium.

ChildLine president Esther Rantzen who spoke during the evening reception about ChildLine’s vital role in helping vulnerable children said:

“For some desperate children, ChildLine is the only place they can turn to for comfort and protection. I want to thank all the polo players and guests for raising vital funds for ChildLine, allowing us to help many more children in danger and distress.”

“This year was the tenth anniversary of ChildLine ‘Polo at Sundown’. Year after year, we have been treated to star players who donate their time for us and have enjoyed watching fabulous polo. Over £360,000 has been raised for ChildLine in the past decade. A quite remarkable sum.”

ChildLine is the UK’s free, confidential 24-hour helpline for children and young people. Trained volunteer counsellors comfort, advice and protect children and young people. In February 2006, ChildLine formally joined with the NSPCC in a move that will ensure even stronger services and a more influential voice for children and young people. The ChildLine service, now one of the NSPCC’s listening services, still has the same well known telephone number – 0800 1111 – and children and young people can still call 24 hours a day and receive the same crucial service.

For more information about the NSPCC and ChildLine visit www.nspcc.org.uk or www.childline.org.uk