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Summer Ball raises £23,000

Post in Fund Raising News on 27th July 2016

The Manx MSA Trust Summer Ball sponsored by PokerStars was held on 8th July raising £23,000 for the charity.

The event was organised by Tommy Mooney & Rumi Sethna on behalf of the Manx-registered charity, which is the island's first support service for people and families touched by this neurological disorder. The funds raised will be put towards research into the degenerative disease. Chris Blake, who was diagnosed with MSA (Multiple System Atrophy) in March 2015 said: 'Tommy and Rumi approached me wanting to help the charity. I knew Tommy and Rumi previously in the business community and they came forward and offered their time and expertise. I really can't thank them enough for what they achieved. The night was fabulous, filled with fun and laughter, whilst raising such a tremendous amount for the charity. When diagnosed with this condition I wanted to ensure there was some learning from my journey and wished to raise funds to be put towards researching this illness for future generations. The initial target for the charity was £50,000 to put towards a worthy project and we are now in the very fortunate position to start the scoping work.'

As well as the organisers, a big thank you is given to the sponsors, prize donors, guests and to the Empress Hotel for hosting the event. Particular thanks goes out to;

PokerStars - for providing overall sponsorship of the venue & food
Oddbins - for providing the champagne reception
Celton Manx - for providing the wine
Long & Humphrey - for the music

Auction prizes & the raffle

Steve Quirke - Sunday lunch for 22 on the Steam Railway
Conor Cummins - a pillion lap of the TT course
Mike Phillips (Sure) - bang & olufsen S3 speaker & headphones
David Silvester, The Studio - photoshoot
Stewart Clague (SCS) - gas boiler & fitting
IoM Flight Training - one hours flying lesson
Phil Colebourn - 32 inch smart TV
Steam Packet - travel for a car & two people
Tynwald Mills - £200 voucher
Triskelion Polo Club - lessons for four
Majestic restaurant & Palace Casino - two meals for two
Regency Hotel - overnight stay
Pandora - a beautiful bracelet
Lorraine Quayle - hand crafted hamper
Tibi Hair & Beauty - a beauty treatment
Beautiful Blooms - floral decoration
Ramsey Crookall - a magnum of champagne
Liz & James Hutchinson - a beauty treatment
Shoprite - food hamper

Plus many other items for which we are very grateful. The auction alone raised over £4,000, and the raffle raising just over £3,000, with Barclays matching with a further £3,000 bringing the raffle amount to a fabulous £6,000.

Thanks goes to Martin Elliott as compère for the evening and the following corporates / individuals are thanked for hosting tables;

PokerStars
Tommy & Rita Mooney
Rumi & Hilda Sethna
Oddbins
Celton Manx
Crowe Morgan
Barclays Bank (2)
Lloyds Bank
Andrew & Debora Langden
Lorna & Andy Wint
Tibi Hair & Beauty
Stewart Clague Services (SCS)
Mr & Mrs Ian McDonald
Carter Jones McDonald

Pictured at the ball, held at the Empress Hotel, are (left to right) Tommy Mooney, Hilda Sethna and Chris Blake

Chis Blake with Rumi Sethna

Enjoying the band