Successful HMS Warrior event raises over £50,000

An evening dinner event aboard HMS Warrior in Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard has raised over £50,000 for the Trust's work. The event, organised by Trustee Rachael Ross and her husband Ken, and attended by over 250 guests including members of the Portsmouth FC squad, was a fantastic success with keen bidding for a range of superb auction lots.

The Trust benefitted from a very special fundraising evening on board  the famous Victorian battleship HMS Warrior in Portsmouth’s historic dockyard. The event took place on on Saturday 1st December 2007, from 7pm until midnight and was organised by Rachael Ross - a Trustee of The Down Syndrome Educational Trust - along with her husband Ken.

Over 250 guests enjoyed the event, which included a three-course dinner with wine, after-dinner entertainment from comedian and impressionist Steve Nallon (of Spitting image fame), a jazz duo, and a roving magician demonstrating sleight-of-hand. Several members of the Portsmouth FC squad also attended - including Kanu, Benjani, John Utaka and Papa Diop.

During the evening there was keen bidding for a range of auction lots including a framed football shirt signed by the England 2006 World Cup Squad (donated by Armani), a commission for a bronze bust by Shenda Amery, a pair of handmade moonstone and diamond gold cufflinks from award winning goldsmith Barbara Tipple, a signed shirt from Chris Martin of Coldplay, and a JK Rowling-signed edition of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

A raffle offered further prizes ranging from bottles of champagne, luxury chocolates, dinners at luxury restaurants, food hampers, pamper weekends, off road driving experiences, BOSE products, and itmes of sports memorabilia.

The proceeds of this successful event have now reached over £50,000 - all of which will support the Trust's vital activities for people with Down syndrome everywhere.

The Trust is extremely grateful to Ken and Rachael for organising this event, which followed from their success in running an event on HMS warrior in November 2005.