Fundraising cabaret and auction raises £6000

Last updated 16-Nov-10 14:40

A cabaret/auction event, held on Saturday 6 November at the Room on the Park social club in Great Bentley, Clacton, has raised £6,000 for the da Vinci Robot Fundraising Appeal.

The event was organised by Mr. John Merralls of Loughton and Mrs. Carol Wright of Goff’s Oak. They are both patients at the Trust who have been diagnosed with Kidney and Bladder cancer respectively. They delivered an energetic night of entertainment, including five cabaret artists who performed free of charge and an auction of football memorabilia. Pundits could bid for signed shirts from Arsenal and Chelsea players, signed Spurs pennants, and lunch for two with the ex-Arsenal and England midfielder Ray Parlour.

There were plenty of non-footballing items up for offer as well, ranging from three trips in a World War 2 spotter plane to a top of the range sleeping mattress.

Prostate cancer is among the most commonly diagnosed cancers, affecting one in six men. Last year in Barnet and Enfield alone there were 242 deaths from prostate and bladder cancers. Since February 2010 the Trust has successfully operated on over 60 Urology patients suffering from prostate, bladder and kidney cancers using the da Vinci Robot, and its use has just been extended to General Surgery patients as well.

Peter Butler, Fundraising Manager for the Trust, received the cheque for £6,000 from John and Carol on the night. Peter said: “The whole night was amazing, and the support John and Carol have had from their friends and relatives was phenomenal.”

If you feel you can support the da Vinci Robot Fundraising Appeal, please contact Peter Butler on 020 8375 1619 or by email: peter.butler@bcf.nhs.uk