News release Drayton Manor takes #IceBucketChallenge to new heights Drayton Manor Theme Park, near Tamworth, Staffordshire, has taken the ice bucket challenge to soaring new heights – a 53 metre height to be exact, as staff members experienced the icy chills from the top of its Apocalypse ride, making it the highest suspended attempt at the freezing feat in the UK. David Bromilow, General Manager of Park Operations, Mark Tierney, General Manager of Catering, John Cooper, Guest Services Manager, and Ian Smith, Ticketing Manager, all braced themselves for the simultaneous icy dousing and plunging free fall drop of the thrill ride, which can be watched online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw_SABbKqSw&list=UU8euo9G5RGgXuORCtKs22QA The award-winning theme park has also made a donation to the Motor Neurone Disease Association as part of the challenge. Not wanting to break with tradition, Drayton Manor has extended the invite to undertake the challenge that is sweeping the nation to Blackpool Pleasure Beach, West Midlands Safari Park, and Six Flags Group in America. Watch this space! To book tickets, or for more information about the park, visit www.draytonmanor.co.uk or call 0844 472 1960. Reduced prices are available for tickets bought in advance. For regular updates and news about Drayton Manor Theme Park join us on Twitter www.twitter.com/Draytonmanor and Facebook www.facebook.com/DraytonManorPark -ENDS- Notes to Editor About Drayton Manor Drayton Manor Theme Park is one of the UK’s most popular family attractions with over one million visitors a year. Drayton Manor was first opened to the public by the current owners, the Bryan family, in 1950 after husband and wife co-founders, George, OBE, and Vera Bryan, converted 80 acres of derelict land, which once belonged to the former British Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel and his family, into a wonderful family attraction. Today, set in approximately 280 acres of beautiful woodland and countryside, the family owned and run Drayton Manor Theme Park features some of the biggest, wettest and scariest rides around, including Shock-wave, G-force, Maelstrom, and Apocalypse, as well as a 15-acre zoo, the hugely popular Thomas Land™ attraction, and a 4D Cinema. The park also has an onsite hotel. The four-star 150 bedroom Drayton Manor Hotel features Executive rooms, Presidential Suites and 15 Thomas & Friends™ rooms, as well as two bars, two restaurants plus The Grill Inn adjacent to the Hotel. About HIT Entertainment HIT Entertainment is one of the world's leading preschool entertainment companies, specializing in building powerful brands based on engaging stories. HIT Entertainment’s world-class portfolio includes Thomas & Friends®, Mike the Knight™, Fireman Sam®, Bob the Builder, Barney®, Angelina Ballerina®, Pingu® and Rainbow Magic®. HIT Entertainment excels at creating and building globally successful brands which capture the hearts and imaginations of preschoolers and their families. This is achieved through exceptional storytelling in multiple formats, enhanced by creating high quality character-based products and experiences with best-in-class partners. HIT Entertainment’s lines of business span television and home entertainment production, content distribution, digital media, publishing, consumer products and live events and attractions. HIT Entertainment is a subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. and has operations in the UK, US, Canada, Hong Kong and Japan. For more information visit www.hitentertainment.com About Thomas & Friends™ Thomas the Tank Engine was created by a father for his son 69 years ago and today is enjoyed by families in more than 185 territories and in 30 languages. The #1 blue engine and his friends invite children to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train and the words of a story. Children embark on adventures with their engine friends while experiencing timeless life lessons of discovery, friendship and cooperation. Thomas & Friends makes tracks to great destinations on PBS KIDS®, Sprout® and on Five’s Milkshake! and Nick Jr in the UK and on CCTV in China. Downloadable episodes are available through iTunes. For more information about the world of Thomas the Tank Engine™ and his friends, please visit www.thomasandfriends.com. .