If you thought you saw the Cheshire Cat, the Queen of Hearts and some distinguished twins wandering around in Ashley, your eyes did not deceive you.
They were all on their way to a ‘Wonderland’-themed fundraising night at Stock Barn Farm, to celebrate the work of Cheshire-born Lewis Carroll.
The March Hare Ball provided an evening of music, fancy dress, great food and entertainment, raising a grand total of £5,000 in aid of Warrington Disability Partnership (WDP).
Guests from across the North West were treated to a hare-raising night of entertainment, including an apt performance from local performing arts school, The Hammond.
A three-course meal was served by Knutsford-based catering company Fork & Field, and volunteers from the law firm Aaron & Partners – who organised the whole evening – hosted a series of ‘curiouser and curiouser’ fundraising games.
Roaring success
The event was set up in aid of the Warrington Disability Partnership (WDP) and marked the start of a fundraising journey for the charity to buy a new accessible holiday home in North Wales, allowing affordable holidays and getaways for disabled people.
Dave Thompson MBE, chief executive of the WDP, said: “We’d like to say a huge thank you to all who attended the March Hare Ball and played their part in making it such a memorable night.
“This was one of the biggest fundraising events we’ve ever hosted and from the feedback we’ve had, it was a roaring success.
“The vital funds we raised on the night will be crucial for our plans to continue providing great experiences for so many through a new state-of-the-art holiday home.”
The current accessible holiday home – a caravan in Pensarn – was first bought back in 2007, and since that time, more than 2,500 holidaymakers have enjoyed over 800 stays and short-term breaks in the area.
But the caravan is now in dire need of replacement to ensure guests can continue to enjoy a comfortable stay and benefit from the latest technology supporting disabled people and those living with long-term health conditions.
Adam Haines, employment law partner at Aaron & Partners, who thanked everyone for attending and their generous donations, said: “The work WDP does often goes under the radar, which is why we wanted to organise this event to help shine a light on its work and raise vital funds.
“I know the holiday home offers a lifeline for so many people right now and we’re very proud to have helped kickstart the fundraising effort to help WDP acquire a brand new one.”
