THE Mayor of Kirklees is celebrating a record-breaking fundraising year by signing up a famous face.

Clr Eric Firth has collected £60,000 for the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice at Brackenhall.

And with three months to go until he hands over his chain of office, the Labour man has already smashed the former record held by Clr Jean Calvert, who raised £52,000 for the children’s hospice in 2007/08.

“I would like to say a great big thank-you to everyone who’s contributed,” he said.

“Please keep giving so we can get up to £100,000 by the end of the year.”

And Clr Firth yesterday won the backing of fellow Dewsbury man Mike “Stevo” Stephenson.

The Sky Sports pundit and former rugby player agreed to sponsor the mayor £250 to abseil off the University of Huddersfield’s Central Services Building next month.

Clr Firth has been raising money for the children’s hospice since he was elected mayor last May.

A charity concert at Huddersfield Town Hall in January featuring Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band has been among the big earners, bringing in more than £5,000 for the good cause.

Clr Firth has now raised £60,000 for the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice – £8,000 more than the previous record held by Clr Jean Calvert, who supported the same charity during her term of office in 2007/08.

Clr Firth believes his success is down to involving people in different parts of Kirklees.

“I set up a fundraising committee in Huddersfield and another one in Dewsbury, which I don’t think other mayors have done,” he said.

“There are two teams working furiously to on my behalf to help this excellent cause.

“I’ve tried to get the message across that the hospice doesn’t just help children in Huddersfield, it includes all of Kirklees – as well as Calderdale, Wakefield and parts of Bradford.”

Hospice fundraising manager Gina Fielding said: “The mayor has been a huge ambassador for the charity and he’s working very hard on our behalf to raise his target of £100,000.

“We’re supporting him in everything he does.”

Clr Firth has a string of fundraisers coming up, including a charity ball at Dewsbury Town Hall on Friday, March 9, an evening of dance at Huddersfield Town Hall on Saturday, March 10 and a concert hosted by the Soroptimists at Huddersfield Town Hall on Friday, March 16.

Anyone wishing to make a donation can send a cheque payable to Mayor’s Charity Appeal to the Mayor’s Office, Town Hall, Ramsden Street, Huddersfield, HD1 2TA.

For more information about organising a fundraising event call 01924 430990 or 07870 219290.

Clr Eric Firth (Labour, Dewsbury East) 2011/12: £60,000 so far for Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice.

Clr Andrew Palfreeman (Conservative, Birstall and Birkenshaw) 2010/11: £44,000 for Combat Stress

Clr Julie Stewart-Turner (Green, Newsome) 2009/10: £36,000 split between the Methodist Mission Cafe and Welcome Centre on Lord Street and Dewsbury crisis charities CARE Dewsbury and Day Break.

Clr Jean Calvert (Labour, Ashbrow) 2007/08: £52,000 for Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice.