Residents of Beckington are celebrating having raised a spectacular £30,000 by holding a Greatest Showmanthemed ball to raise money for the planned Dyson Cancer Centre, which will be built at the Royal United Hospital Bath.
The ball was organised by a small group of people from Beckington, to support friends and members of the Warminster and District RUH Fundraising Group who have been fundraising for the RUH Cancer Care Campaign since 2013.
They said, “We are absolutely thrilled to have raised so much for the RUH Cancer Care Campaign. We wanted to support our dear friend Terry Hickmott who is a long standing supporter of The Forever Friends Appeal and we are delighted that the Beckington Ball has been a huge success again this year.
“We would like to thank local businesses, including our lead sponsor John Wainwright & Co Ltd for their contribution. Without the volunteers and the overwhelming support from the people of Beckington and the surrounding area, we could not have done it and we hope that this money will help change lives.’’
Special guests on the night included RUH oncologist Dr Rebecca Bowen and Mark Beresford, consultant oncologist and clinical lead for oncology and haematology.
Since 2015 when the first Beckington Ball was held, over £80,000 has been raised for the RUH Cancer Care Campaign. The Beckington Ball Committee has been welcomed as principal community partners of The Forever Friends Appeal and will be invited to name one of the specialist areas or departments within the new Dyson Cancer Centre.
Lauren Noble, senior community fundraiser, The Forever Friends Appeal said, “On behalf of our charity, I would like to thank Chris, Ang, Dan, Annie, Terry, The Warminster and District RUH Fundraising Group and Beckington Cricket Club for working so hard to make this event a success.
“Words cannot express how grateful we are for your generosity and dedication which means so much to patients, families and staff at the RUH. We are still completely blown away by what you’ve achieved and as P.T. Barnum in the Greatest Showman said ‘’the noblest art is that of making others happy.’’ Thank you once again to everyone involved!”
Above: Matthew Moore, Lee Saviour (representatives from John Wainwright & Co Ltd) Big Ted, Chris Weare & Angela Allen (Beckington Ball Committee), Terry Hickmott and Annie Hickmott (Warminster and District RUH Fundraising Group).
