St Valentines Charity Dance
For Naomi House

A couple with hearts of gold have raised £1200 for a children's hospice which has been hit by the credit crunch.

Gerry Murphy and his wife Maria (pictured left - click on the picture for a larger view) held their money spinning pool competition and disco at the Old Basing Cricket Club's clubhouse on Valentine's Day. 

Almost 50 friends and supporters turned up for the event which included a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses.

The couple, who live at Chineham, organised the fund raiser after learning that the Naomi House Hospice has had to cut back its services to dying children.

At present the Stockbridge-based charity is trying to retrieve £5.7m of its assets which it had invested in a collapsed Icelandic bank.

Mr Murphy said: "My wife decided we should try do something after hearing on the radio that the hospice could no longer visit dying children in their homes.

"Never in our wildest dreams did we think we would raise over £1000 and we are grateful to everyone who contributed."

He added: "We hope our success will inspire others to hold similar fund raising events for the hospice." 

Mr Murphy also thanked the cricket club which provided the clubhouse and a buffet free of charge.

 
Left to right Ali Belcher, Maria Murphy and Ali Cropp, who helped organise the event, are pictured receiving a bouquet of flowers.


Just a selection of some of the attendees.

Story by Clifford Mogg
Pictures by Tony Tuck.