Midlands business community raises £60,000 at charity event
The Midlands business community has come together to raise over £60,000 for Nottingham and Mansfield-based charity Switch Up which supports vulnerable young people from the area’s most deprived communities.
The Sporting Heroes Dinner, held at the Nottingham Belfry, raised funds through a raffle and auction of prizes. Its start-studded guest list, which included hosts Vernon Kay and Darren Fletcher, alongside charity patrons Torville and Dean, local boxing champion Leigh Wood and former Nottingham Forest stars Gary Birtles, Gary Brazil and Nigel Jemson, meant all 450 seats were sold well in advance. The final figure is still being counted but the organisers are expecting to smash expectations and raise in the region of £70,000 for the charity.
Marcellus Baz BEM, founder and chief executive of Switch Up, said: “I am beyond grateful for the funds raised which will change the lives of literally hundreds of young people in Nottingham and Mansfield.
“Seeing so many regional businesses come together to make such a profound difference to their community was amazing. I want to thank everyone that purchased a ticket and donated, our VIP guests for giving up their time for free, and all those who made the night happen.”
The event was organised by teams from Cartwright Communications, Gleeds, and RizkMcCayTribe. Auction prizes included two tickets to the Rugby World Cup, Stuart Broad’s signed shirt which was worn during the first match England played against New Zealand and a chance to attend a recording of Dancing with The Stars as the personal guest of Torville and Dean.
