Raising Money for brain tumour research

The Fundraisng story........

Ben Sambrook's Mother from Aldridge, launched the Ben Sambrook Trust Fund after her son, Ben, now aged 11, successfully fought off a grade four malignant tumour. What started out as a positive outlet for her frustrations over the lack of research into tumours in children has turned out to be a huge charity venture � with �60,000 now raised in under two years. The latest bumper cheque to be cashed into the fund came from a Moulin Rouge-themed ball held in October 2009, which raised �9,500. Mrs Sambrook said: "I am amazed by the amount. "We raised �10,000 in 2008, but we didn't think we would get anywhere near that, due to the current economic problems. "However, people's generosity for this cause never fails to astound me." More than 140 people attended the glamorous ball at Calderfields Golf and Country Club, where cancan dancers, a street artist, accordionist and a DJ provided entertainment. Mrs Sambrook and her husband Steven, Ben's father, gave a moving speech featuring slides of their son's journey through illness and treatment to his good health today. Mr Sambrook closed his speech by thanking guests for their continued support. He said: "We want brain cancer to be a treatable disease, not a disease that robs you of your hopes and dreams and in all too many cases your life. We need a cure and we need it fast." Mrs Sambrook received ample support from entertainment company Cohesion, who planned the ball, which sold out in days. She said: "I couldn't have done it without Julie Homfray, Cohesion managing director." Nearly 4,000 raffle tickets were sold and hundreds of pounds was also raised on the night with a special charity auction. The money from the fund, will specifically help research projects to improve diagnosis and treatment in patients with high grade glioma, like Ben. To support the fund, donations can be made online by visiting www.justgiving.com/BenSambrookFund or by emailing Sharon Sambrook at sasambrook@yahoo.com

More back ground information.....

Aldridge businesses are being invited to take part in a special fundraising project, inspired by 9 year old Ben Sambrook from Aldridge, who was treated for a Brain Tumour last year. His family have set up their own umbrella fund of the Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust, which is the largest single funder of lab-based brain tumour research in the UK.

Ben, who attends Cooper and Jordan school, has undergone brain surgery and months of gruelling treatment including radiotherapy and chemotherapy. He is doing well but has to be scanned every three months, and for his family, the dread and fear of the tumour returning is very real. As research into this tumour type has not moved forward in 20 years, they are determined to do help find more treatment options and ultimately a cure.

During June 2008, around 200 Aldridge businesses will be contacted with a fundraising pack to show the ways they can help. One Aldridge based entertainment business Cohesion has made Ben�s appeal their charity of the year and is helping to organise and sponsor a Las Vegas Ball later in the year. Jon Hart, a local graphic designer, has given up his time to design flyers, programmes and tickets. A local electrician Jon Homfray is offering sponsored sticker space on his trip across the mountains of Europe and North Africa this summer. Ben�s family would love more people to get involved in the project and there are several ways in which businesses, organisations and individuals can help:

The Viva Las Vegas Ball will be held at Calderfields Golf and Country Club in Aldridge on Friday 3rd October 2008. With Vegas Showgirls, Elvis�s Chapel of Love, Magical Compere, Fun Casino, Downtown Buffet and much more, this will be the ultimate way of experiencing the glamour of Vegas on your doorstep. Tickets are �30 or �250 for a table of ten - so ideal for a company night out or entertaining clients. If you can�t attend, you can support us by buying a �virtual ticket� for �10, which will give you two raffle entries to be drawn on the night. All proceeds, minus cost of the buffet, will go to the charity.

The Vegas Raffle. For attendees and non-attendees, raffle tickets will be available before the ball and on the night for �5. We are currently appealing for businesses to donate prizes for this important fundraising element, with the sponsor companies being given a mention both in the programme and by the compere on the evening. Alternatively you can provide a prize for the winners of our Fun Casino.

Helpers and sponsors. It is traditional to offer a complimentary reception drink to guests on arrival, and there is an opportunity for a company / companies to sponsor this very popular element! We would work with you to incorporate your company logo into the presentation of the drinks, as well as a large mention in the programme. We are also looking for a company / organisation to provide materials or help us make a Little White Chapel for Elvis! Any other help / contributions towards this very special evening will be appreciated.

�Over The Tops� - Motorcycle Adventure. Local electrician Jon Homfray is embarking on a 5-6 week long motorcycle trip over the summer of 2008 to encompass as many mountain ranges as possible between Aldridge and Morocco! Good local media interest has been shown in his plan to donate all money to Ben�s charity which he will raise by selling space for company logos on his bike panniers and luggage. He will get the sticker made if you have a logo that you you want to add. Get a sticker on the bike and it will be seen all over Europe and North Africa...Bigger donations get bigger stickers....More Stickers mean a bigger story and more exposure for you and your company ! Individuals and Families can sponsor a small sticker from �10, with company stickers from �25. We are also looking for school and children�s groups to create their own bike logo - please contact Jon on jonh@cohesion.plus.com for more information or for a sponsorship form. Every penny from stickers purchased will be donated to Bens's charity. The entire motor cycle trip will be funded by the riders. All sticker donations will be listed here as an additional bonus.
More information is available on the Over The Tops website

For The Viva Las Vegas Ball and raffle information, or if you are a local business who have not been sent a fundraising pack, contact Sharon Sambrook on 07910 752860 or Email Sharon Sambrook
or Julie Homfray on 07986 574 250 or Email Julie Homfray
For Bike sponsorship contact Jon Homfray 01922 744 329
Email Jon Homfray

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