GEMMA Carter’s experience as a Disney character Pluto really helped on her first day working at St David’s Hospice Care.

Just over an hour after starting at the Newport-based charity as a community fund raiser Gemma was being pelted in orange paint powder in the garden at the day hospice in Malpas.

And the reason?

Gemma, aged 28, from St Julians, Newport, was the target for the paint pelting prank to help promote the charity’s popular Kolor Dash event on Sunday, June 12, at Tredegar Park. The dash is being supported by Western Power Distribution, who were on hand to help throw the paint at Gemma.

Performing Arts Academy South West graduate Gemma, who was recently employed as a special needs teaching assistant at Glan Usk Primary School, Newport, said: “To be honest, I wasn’t expecting to be covered in paint powder on my first day.”

Gemma said: “After working at Euro Disney for three years, when I performed as Pluto or Eeyore and was also a dancer in the Parade, I think that I am ready to take on anything after that.”

The former St Julians School and University of South Wales student said: “The paint powder was a bit of a baptism on fire I suppose but I must admit that I did say at interview that I was up for anything and that claim really was put to the test on my first day in the job.

“I’m really looking forward to getting involved in the St David’s Hospice Care fund raising events and doing my bit in the community to help support events and find raisers to raise as much money as possible for the charity.”

Kris Broome, of St David Hospice Care, said: “We don’t normally have any kind of initiation for new starters but if we did, Gemma came through with flying colours quite literally. After that I’m quite confident that Gemma will be a great addition to our fantastic team of fund raisers covering Newport and Monmouthshire.”

Karen Welch, of Western Power Distribution, said: “We’re keen to do as much as we can to help support St David’s Hospice Care which does such brilliant work throughout our community. I’m now expecting Gemma to get her own back on the day of the Kolor Dash!”

For more information and to sign up for the Kolor Dash visit www.stdavidshospicecare.org or call 01633 851051.

If you had an interesting experience on the first day of a new job, let us know. Email jo.barnes@gwent-wales.co.uk with your stories and we may publish some of them.