They did it again!
WOMAC supporters came together to help raise support and cancer awareness at Women On the Move Against Cancer’s (WOMAC) annual fundraising party, and smashed the target once more!
This year, the WOMAC party was held at The Kia Oval in Kennington, London, on Wednesday 21 February where the popular raffle and tombola returned with a record total of more than 400 prizes.
Thanks to the many kind and generous donations from guests and corporate sponsors, WOMAC has achieved its £15,000 pledge towards this year’s chosen charity, the Kidney Cancer Support Network (KCSN) – a patient-led network of kidney cancer patients, carers and family members affected by kidney cancer.
WOMAC also introduced its Silent Auction with a pair of tickets to the Kia hospitality box in the OCS Stand at The Kia Oval up for grabs on the first day of the final Test Match between England and India. Bids are still open, so please email your bids for this wonderful prize to WOMAC Treasurer Nicola Humphreys at ni**************@im********.uk before midnight on Tuesday 27 March. The winner will be announced on WOMAC’s social media channels on Wednesday 28 March.
To add to the atmosphere, party guests were joined in the VIP photo area by Alec Stewart, former Surrey and England captain, batsman and wicket-keeper for England and the second-most capped England player in history; Gareth Batty, former England spinner and captain of Surrey last year; as well as Bryony Smith and Aylish Cranstone of the Surrey Stars women’s team.
The Kidney Cancer Support Network will fund various activities to raise knowledge and awareness of kidney cancer and its symptoms, enabling patients to share their experiences and insights. With more donations promised from WOMAC supporters, it is hoped to increase the final donation to KCSN before our fundraising year ends in the autumn.
Julia Black, co-founder of KSCN, said, “What a fabulous night with a brilliant group of people! We were bowled over by the enthusiasm, generosity and support we’ve received and everyone who attended the evening – it was amazing to be part of such a wonderful event and we cannot say ‘thank you’ enough. The funds WOMAC raised will have such an enormous impact on the charity and the work and support we can provide. The funds will go directly to patient support, which means so much to those affected by this rare cancer.”
Georgia Fox, Chair of WOMAC, added, “We are delighted to support the Kidney Cancer Support Network in 2018 and are absolutely thrilled we’ve reached the target for our first pledge. The work they do is vital in helping to guide, provide information and support anyone affected by kidney cancer.”
Since 1979, when WOMAC was founded, more than 50 charities have received in excess of £900,000 in donations. These generous contributions have gone towards supporting a range of projects, from funding counsellors, supplying flowers and benches in hospice gardens, and providing reclining chairs in treatment rooms, as WOMAC strives also to support the many all-important research projects that are helping to improve cancer diagnoses and treatment.
WOMAC is most grateful to all of its supporters, without whom we would not have been able to achieve any of this. Georgia said: “Whatever we’re doing here at WOMAC, it works and it’s making a difference. I’m overwhelmed by the number of donations we’ve received and would like to thank everyone who joined us at this year’s party. Thank you for supporting us – your generosity will touch many lives.”
As well as the generosity of individual supporters, WOMAC would like to thank its corporate sponsors for their support: Bentley Motors, Beyond Content, BMW Group UK, Ennis & Co, Imprimatur, Kelsey Publishing, Kia Motors, Mark Oliver Design, MINI UK, Newspress, Richard Parsons Photography, Sims Images, SMMT, Vauxhall Motors, Volkswagen Group United Kingdom, Volvo Car UK and Worlds Apart.
WOMAC thanks everyone who has kindly donated to its cause and urges those haven’t already done so to visit www.JustGiving.com/WOMAC2018 where they can still give to the charity.
