Fundraisers will be banged up today in order to raise money for a hospice - and the Observer will be on hand to see how they get on.

Volunteers are to be thrown in the slammer at Pinner Police Station in Waxwell Lane, Pinner, and forced to call around contacts to earn a minimum £1,000 in pledges to earn their freedom.

The annual Jail And Bail event benefits St Luke’s Hospice in Kenton Grange, Kenton.

Reporter Caitlin Black will be Tweeting live from the event and photographer Shane Dempsey is snapping away the unfortunate 'inmates'.

Nigel Orton, the bench chairman of North-West London magistrates, raised more than £14,000 for St Luke's Hospice's Jail and Bail and has been released
Nigel Orton, the bench chairman of North-West London magistrates, raised more than £14,000 for St Luke's Hospice's Jail and Bail and has been released

Read all Jail and Bail Tweets here:

  • Taking part this year are:
  • Harrow councillor and London Assembly member for Brent and Harrow, Navin Shah
  • Harrow Central Mosque trustee Mohammed Abdul Rahman.
  • Former carer Kathleen O’Conner
  • Harrow councillor Ajay Maru who is also the owner of Salon Sleek
  • Chairman of Harrow Sikh Association, Gopal Bhachu
  • St Luke’s Hospice trustee Ramesh Bhanderi
  • Reverend James Mercer, vicar of All Saints' Harrow Weald church
  • Graham Buckland, husband of a St Luke's Hospice trustee
  • Publisher and editor of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samacher, CB Patel
  • L George, chief operating officer of Asian Business Publications
  • Nigel Orton, the bench chairman of North-West London magistrates (somewhat ironically)
  • Sherry Sendenayake, a local business owner
  • Kavit Shah, a supporter of St Luke's Hospice
  • Vice-chairman of Inter Faith Network UK and director of Godrej International, Dorab Mistry

Mr Rahman said: “I’m feeling both excited and apprehensive about being locked up.

“I can’t say I have ever had a brush with the law, so it will be an interesting new experience.

“I am not sure how many of us will be sharing a cell and I’ve also heard the food is not great.

“I have always lived in Harrow and been aware of St Luke’s.

“However, I only fully appreciated the great work that they do when I approached them last year, when we launched an initiative at Harrow Mosque to raise funds for the charity.”

Mr Shah said: “In 2011 I languished in jail and was bailed out when I raised in excess of £5,000.

“I’m delighted to be participating again in this event because St Luke’s Hospice is a local charity providing unique and the best quality expert palliative care service.”

Other ‘inmates’ to have signed up for the challenge include Harrow councillor and Salon Sleek owner Ajay Maru, the chairman of Harrow Sikh Association Gopal Bhachu, St Luke’s Hospice trustee Ramesh Bhanderi, the vicar of All Saints’ Church in Harrow Weald, Reverend James Mercer, and Kathleen O’Conner, a former carer for Brent Council’s social services department.

Ms O’Conner said: “The main reason I am taking part in this event is because many of my family members were affected by cancer and thankfully they beat it, except one.

“It is important for local people to help the hospice because no one knows what life throws at you.”

Last year’s Jail and Bail event raised £12,200.

■ If you want to take part, contact Aneka on 020 8382 8063.