It truly was a night to remember for the 70 people who were generous enough to buy tickets for what was to be the largest charity fundraising night in Mayfield for a very, very long time.
It all started as a desire to raise money for cancer charities and the thought by The Memorial Hall Bar Chairman Graham, (that’s Bush to you and me) and his wife Mandy that Mayfield and its community could go there and beyond if they were given the right event to attend. An evening was planned around the idea of bottomless cocktails together with a food platter per table and when everyone had their fill of two solid hours of free cocktails or prosecco or beer move on to a dance and then a charity raffle and auction with all proceedings to be shared between the Breast Cancer unit at Derby and Prostate Cancer Research.
A key part of it was to get people and organisations to donate the auction prizes and if possible, some of the alcohol everyone was going to drink. And that was the first surprise, just how generous people were. The good people at Bookers gave free prosecco and Marston’s brewery free beer to help minimise the costs and then the auction and raffle items came flooding in. They included 3 nights B&B in Blackpool, Derby signed football and shirt, a day at the races with Marston’s for 2 people, load of logs, midi skip, 2 nights at award winning Jack’s Cottage in Longnor, bale of haylage and JCB models (one formula 1 martini edition). Then there was meals out for two at the best local restaurants and pubs and a party of 8 VIP passes for wild Park at Brailsford paintballing including dinner and many, many more.
Now as you can imagine two hours of unlimited cocktails, prosecco and beer made people all the happier and more willing to bid for items, buy raffle tickets and just generously give donations to a very good cause. They were all so generous that at the end of the night an amazing £4,000 was raised in just one evening. And at this point over to chief organiser Bush for a few words “WHAT an awesome night. Never have I, being in charge of the bar in the last 5 years, seen so much generosity from people raising 2k each for Derby breast unit and Prostate Cancer UK. You were all totally amazing. Big thanks to Mandy Sowter and Sam Steeples for all the hard work in organising. Kerry, Dave, Bethan and Kate Turner for all their help on the day and night, Louis and Ant for a toppin job on the cocktail bar. Thanks to Liz and Di for organising the raffle, Big shout out to my wingman Simon Sowter on the bar, raffle n auction. All those AMAZING folk who donated prizes, wouldn’t have raised the amount without your generosity. What an amazing community we live in.”
And at that point it was time to dance the night away – until the next charity do on 30 October.
And if you did not attend but would like to contribute or donate you still can. One in two of us will suffer from some form of cancer in our lives. Research and treatment are the way forward. Text Bush (Graham) on 07341 335479 if you want to help and donate – any sum will do.
Thank you