Ladies lunch raises £40,000! for CAFT

Butlers in the Buff with the chocolate box raffle prize winner Steph Molnar and Jane Beeley from United Airlines

Local children’s charity, The Children’s Adventure Farm Trust, broke all records at their 8^th Annual Ladies Lunch which was held at The Mere on Thursday 13^th June. 

This year’s theme was Venetian Masquerade and the charity certainly didn’t disappoint with an event full of glamour, fun and most importantly – fundraising – for local terminally ill, disabled and disadvantaged children.

The charity thought they had reached a limit with their 2011 event which raised an amazing £26,000 thanks to their 330 guests.  However, this year they were thrilled to welcome 435 ladies from all over the region, smashing through last year’s figure and securing over £40,000!

Suzan Holder with CAFT’s Helen Crowther.

The charity’s Patrons turned out in force to support a cause close to their hearts.  Suzan Holder, Catherine Manford, Paralympian Sarah Storey and Carole Nash brought along family and friends to enjoy the event.  Sarah and Suzan also went that extra mile by modelling during the fashion show!

Catherine Manford bids in the auction.

The event began with a cocktail drinks reception during which guests were invited to indulge in a spot of shopping and pampering from the 18 stalls and beauty demonstrations, with delicious samples of ice creams and sorbets by Ice Cream Dub provided by Ice Cream Dub. They were then treated to a delicious 3 course lunch during which they were entertained by the vocal talents of Deb Silver.  Paul Sleem played Host for the event, helping the day run seamlessly.

Gravity Live provided dancers and breath-taking stilt walkers who wowed the audience.  There was a stunning fashion show by Black White Denim of Wilmslow, with some surprise guests at the end – two very handsome young men from Butlers in the Buff!  These (very popular) guests also helped to sell boxes of chocolates in one of the charity’s trademark special raffles, the lucky winner of which walked away with two flights to Washington kindly donated by United Airlines!

Sale Sharks and Cheshire Fitness provided some very fit and able helpers to sell tickets in the Grand Raffle which included prizes donated by Kuoni, Cheshire Life and all of the assembled stall holders.  Each guest was treated to a delicious cupcake supplied by Beaulea’s Cake Studio in Knutsford who also donated a prize for the Auction.

Patron Carole Nash donated a stunning Louis Vuitton handbag which was the prize in a further special raffle which sold out in the blink of an eye, the winners were delighted to walk away with this exclusive accessory!  The raffle raised an impressive £2,130 for the charity!

CAFT staff and volunteers. (L to R): (Back) Marie Molnar, Jenny O’Hare, Host Paul Sleem, Helen Crowther, James Scott, Julie Gray, Andrea Quigley (Front) Pippa Watton, Peta Green and Matt Ballantyne.

Julie Gray, Events & Community Fundraiser at CAFT, was thrilled with the success of the event: “This was an amazing day, we really can’t thank all of our guests and contributors enough.  To raise £40,000 was beyond our wildest dreams, we’re all totally blown away by the generosity of all concerned.”

To find out more about the Adventure Farm, their current or future events or the ways in which you could help, visit www.caft.co.uk or ring the fundraisers on 01565 830 503.

Photography by Paul Worpole.