After several false starts due to the coronavirus pandemic, the team behind Exmouth’s Macmillan Charity Ball have finally been able to name a date.
The event, which was scheduled to go ahead on July 9 at Ocean, will now be held on Friday October 1.
And, the organisers, Al’s Pals, are appealing for donations to help raise extra money on the night.
The stoic group of Exmouth mums joined forces after losing a dear friend, Alison Robinson, 49, to cancer on Christmas Eve 2019.
Since then they have, among other initiatives, organised clothes sales, jumped from planes and run marathons raising more than £15,000 in the process.
This amount could have funded a Macmillan nurse for in excess of 250 hours or helped 19 families with a Macmillan grant to help with the cost of cancer.
Originally from Scotland, Alison moved to Exmouth around 15 years ago when her husband, Mike, landed a job with Flybe at Exeter Airport. The couple had two children, Charlie and Meredith and the family played a huge part in the Exmouth community.
All 150 tickets for the October ball, which will feature Alison’s favourite band ‘Not the Cowboys’, have sold out.
The team are hoping to raise around £5,000 on the night and are appealing for auction prizes to help swell the coffers.
Ball organiser Clare Tate said: “If anyone can help with prizes that can be auctioned off on the night, we are looking for anything from a bottle of prosecco to weekend breaks away.
To make a donation, contact Clare on claretatework@gmail.com or call her on 07810355055.
Clare added: “Al’s Pals would like to take the opportunity thank The Swan, Puffing Billy, Redwing, Spoken, Merchant, Tesco, Porky Downs Butchers, Kings Butchers, Antonio’s, Cookies & Dream, Deli on the Strand, Crossfit Pi, The Clinic, Shift, Visions Rackets, Exe Fitness, Love my Tan, The Nail Shed, Groves Health & Fitness, Flawless Beauty, Rosie Martin Beauty, Andrew Humphries Jewellers, John Fowler Holiday Park, Crealy Meadows, Riverdart, Cranford, Hotel du Vin, Dockside Cafe, LED, Edge Watersports, Exeter City, Exeter Chiefs for all their kind donations so far.
“Also, a huge thank you to William Highbourne Wealth Management Ltd, Hall & Scott Estate Agents & DG Risk for being our main sponsors for the evening.”