(Left to right) Ken Johnson, Mayoress of Pendle Ann McGeorge, Mayor Cllr Shelagh Derwent, Adam Hosker, Venita Burby and Brett Burby
Pendle and Burnley's Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Group are set to benefit from more than £7,500 raised at a sell out "Glitz and Glamour" evening - sponsored by BSB Electronics - of fun and entertainment held at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Accrington on Friday 26th September.
Well over 200 local people, including many local businesses, attended and supported the event with prizes and donations. Chairman of the Lancashire, Greater Manchester and South Cumbria Region of the MS Society, Ken Johnson, is delighted by the outstanding success of the evening. He says, "This spectacular event was extremely well organised by Venita Burby with excellent support from local people. Local businesses were very supportive too, and I'd especially like to thank main sponsors, BSB Electronics, for all their help in making the evening such a great success."
The Pendle and Burnley MS Group are already planning how to use the funds for the greater benefit of members. There are lots of ideas but Venita Burby says a favourite option is adaptations to the Group's Resource Centre at Barrowford to make it more wheelchair-friendly. These changes will enable the Group's Contact Club to hold its weekly meetings at Barrowford instead of spending precious funds hiring other venues.
Highlights of the fun packed evening included the Bond Formation Team of 13-16 year old girls from Preston who came 7th in the World Championships and Roz Royale's sensational Shirley Bassey tribute. The auction conducted by Lancashire "Apprentice" Adam Hosker offered many desirable items including a Manchester United shirt signed by Alex Ferguson, a Burnley FC football and a Blackburn Rovers shirt signed by the respective teams, a gite holiday in France, a year's supply of baked beans and many other valuable items. Another highlight of the evening was the special "Bling Bola" with its prizes of tiaras and diamante jewellery and the casino featuring roulette and blackjack was also a great success.
Fund raising is set to continue for a much needed new mini bus and principal organiser, Venita Burby, and main sponsors, BSB Electronics, are already planning for an even better event next year. Venita says, "We are so delighted by the success of this first event we are already thinking about next year. The 2009 Glitz and Glamour Ball is likely to have the theme of "Heart and Soul" and feature a soul band."
All the services offered by the MS Group aim to help people with MS to live as full a life as possible in their local community. These services include physiotherapy as well as reflexology sessions, comprehensive information and advice and a weekly contact club and excursions to local markets and beauty spots, the Group has their own bus with wheelchair access to make it easier for MS sufferers to get around.
