A WIDNES restaurant is hoping to raise £5,000 for a children’s charity.

Italian restaurant Pesto in Birchfield Road has launched a ‘Big Drive’ campaign for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which helps to bring smiles to the faces of children facing life-threatening conditions by arranging some very special experiences.

Co-owner of Pesto and long-time motor sport enthusiast Neil Gatt, aged 50, from Tarporley said: “We have already received huge support from our suppliers and partners. Their generosity has meant that we have raised over £1,500 in just seven days.

“The whole team is now gearing up to raise even more and hopefully hit our target for this very worthwhile cause.”

Multiple British Rally Driving Champion and film stunt driver Mark Higgins who recently worked on Fast and Furious 6 and latest Bond movie Skyfall has also pledged his support.

His £200,000 Ford Fiesta R5 which he will drive in this year’s Rally GB in November, the UK’s largest motor rally event, will sport the Make-A-Wish Foundation® UK logo.

Driver Mark Higgins added: “Make-A-Wish is a fantastic charity that helps fulfil some very magical wishes of children and young people that are fighting life-threatening conditions, I’m delighted to help support such a wonderful charity.”

The Farnworth restaurant, which employs 40 people, opened last year after a £175,000 makeover of the former Coterie. 

It was the sixth restaurant opened by entrepreneur Mr Gatt and his partner, Billinge-born Sara Edwards, aged 40, since 2006.

The restaurant group now has ten sites including ‘Pesto in a Pub’ sites outside Bradford, Bromborough and Sheffield as well as city centre restaurants in Glasgow and Liverpool.

To donate to Pesto’s ‘Big Drive’ in aid of Make-A-Wish Foundation® UK please visit http://www.justgiving.com/pestobigdrive

For more information visit www.pestorestaurants.co.uk