Band night smashes fundraising target for childhood cancer support charity
A Coventry and Warwickshire charity which provides support for children with cancer and their families is set for a major boost after a charity band night smashed its fundraising target.
Deeley Group, a construction and property development company in Coventry, raised £16,500 for Shine A Light Childhood Cancer Support at the third edition of its charity band night.
The sold-out event took place at The Village Hotel Coventry and attracted 230 guests for an evening of entertainment and fundraising.
Organisers had hoped to raise £10,000 at the event, which would have matched last year’s total for The Myton Hospices, but soared past that figure.
Two musical acts took to the stage on the evening with singer Sarah Kathleen Owen and Edison, a four-piece band from Coventry, both performing.
The evening’s fundraising received a big boost from a successful auction and raffle, with more than 25 raffle prizes donated by local businesses and partners of the Deeley Group.
The auction raised thousands with items including signed football shirts, rugby shirts, cricket shirts, bicycles and cricket balls proving popular with guests.
Shine A Light recently opened a new centre in Rugby and provides support services and a supportive community to children with cancer and their families.
Sam Schoolar, CEO of Shine A Light, said: “It was an overwhelming amount of money to raise in one evening. Deeley Group had projected £10,000 which would already have been an incredible amount, to raise nearly double that is breathtaking.
“We’re opening a new cancer centre in Rugby town centre, this will support those works, and enable us to complete the project and get our community café open. It will also mean that we have the security of knowing that our rent is paid for the next few months, which is really important.
“The atmosphere in the room was lovely and everyone was so willing to be part of the day. Everyone was so generous and I would like to thank everyone on behalf of Shine A Light.”
The Trustees of the Deeley Group Charity which organised the event are Chris Newman, Matt Lynch, Carol Maughan and Lily Chedgey, supported by Peter Deeley and Peter Hartill.
Carol Maughan, Contract Administrator at the Deeley Group, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone that came along on the evening and helped us to raise a significant amount of money for Shine A Light.
“Every year this event continues to grow, from raising £8,000 in its first year, to £16,500 this year. There was a great atmosphere in the room and it was lovely to see so many people there on the evening.
“We’re proud to be able to support Shine A Light. Sam spoke at the event about the work they do and we hope that this donation will help them to continue to provide a vital support network.
“We worked really hard to put this together and it has certainly paid off!”
