The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
The small team behind a Spalding charity ball is expanding its fundraising events next year.
As well as a fifth annual Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation ball, also planned is a 90s themed party and a golf day.
The ball itself is on the move after outgrowing The Castle Sports Complex venue. Next year organisers hope to have 500 people at Springfields Events Centre on Saturday, October 22, for the Greased Lightning themed event.
The ball was established in 2012 by West Pinchbeck mum Gemma Robinson. This year’s profit of £8,200 took the four-year total to more than £42,000.
Gemma said: “This year the theme was the circus and just because it was so much fun we wanted to keep that fun element next year.”
Helping with the organising again will be Boston mum Jenny Carr, whose son Oliver was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes within a week of Gemma and husband Paul’s six-year-old daughter.
Faith, who goes to St Bartholomew’s Primary School in West Pinchbeck, has her condition managed with pump therapy but still needs around-the-clock care from her parents.
Also playing a big part in organising the JDRF fundraising events locally is well-known Spalding DJ Shaun Neal, who will be on the decks at the 90s night.
Gemma said: “We’ve got a good team and work hard to make the events the best they can be and value for money.
“The first year I was hoping to get 150 people and we had 325. It’s grown well and we’ve built up a good rapport with people.
“It takes over my life but it’s such a positive thing to be doing and always at the forefront of my mind is to raise awareness of the charity.”
The 90s throwback party is optional fancy dress and being held at The South Holland Centre on Saturday, April 16. Tickets are £10. DJ Gavin James, from the Butlins Big Weekenders, is featuring alongside Shaun.
Details of the golf day at Spalding Golf Club, probably in June, are still being finalised.
Paul – known as Diesel – raised more than £2,100 for JDRF by taking part in the 3,000-mile Scumrun rally across Europe last summer.
The Fiat Multiplas which he and friends Mahroof Choudary and Bradley Hueso bought for the event and painted in tiger stripes to go with their Team Wild name made £540 for the charity by being auctioned on eBay.
Gemma said: “We’re so grateful to everybody who has supported us in any way and we’d love to see many old faces and some new ones next year.”
To register interest in any of the events call Gemma on 07743 409314 or email gemmac25@hotmail.com
