Shrewsbury woman stages special event for hospice in memory of aunt

A wedding shop owner whose aunt died of cancer is to say thank you to the hospice that cared for her by holding a celebratory black-tie dinner fundraiser this month.

It’s a double celebration for local girl Suzanne Heavens who opened her Heavenly Brides and Belles in Shrewsbury’s Pride Hill Shopping Centre 12 months ago.

Young mum Suzanne, 32, from Wenlock Road, Shrewsbury, is organising the dinner at the Lord Hill Hotel, Shrewsbury on Friday, November 29, to support the Shrewsbury-based Severn Hospice.

Suzanne says she chose to raise funds for the hospice as a thank you for the wonderful care they gave her aunt Kathleen who died of cancer two years ago.

Suzanne said: “I really wanted to mark my first year in business with a real celebration event and thought it was an ideal way of raising funds for a worthy cause at the same time.

“My aunt, Kathleen Bradley of Cressage, died at the hospice two years ago after suffering from cancer. The care she received and the support we were given as a family was exceptional and I really can’t praise the hospice enough.

“That’s why I decided to organise the event and to raise funds for Severn Hospice at the same time.”

And Suzanne is hoping to sell all 180 tickets for the event and is hoping a few Pride Hill shops might organise their own Christmas functions around the event.

She said: “Tickets are just £35 and that includes welcome drinks, a three course dinner with coffee and entertainment including live music from well known local duo, Kelly and Eric, plus a disco.

“When you consider that most basic Christmas functions start at around £30 a head, not including entertainment, the event is a great way to celebrate Christmas while raising funds for a very worthy cause at the same time.

“There are lots of other fun things going on too such a photo booth, thanks to JOL Photographic and a raffle with some amazing prizes.

“So far I have secured race tickets to Bangor-on-Dee Races, theatre tickets for Wolverhampton and even a two-night mini cruise to Rotterdam. However, I’d welcome donations of any other raffle prizes from anyone who can help.”

She added: “I’m delighted with my first year of trading at Pride Hill. I am becoming well established and people now know where I am. At the present time I work alone but I am hoping to eventually take on some permanent staff.

“I really hope customers and fellow Pride Hill shop staff get behind the black-tie dinner and help me raise as much as possible for Severn Hospice.”

Mike Parry, Severn Hospice Community Fundraiser, says he is grateful to Suzanne for raising funds for the hospice.

He said: “We really are grateful to Suzanne for all her contributions and for the effort she is putting into organising this event.

“We rely on the support, generosity and goodwill of people like Suzanne if we are to continue supporting patients suffering from incurable illnesses and conditions.

“It’s fabulous that Suzanne has chosen to celebrate her first year in business by raising valuable funds for the hospice and I hope she receives the support she deserves and that the event is a sell-out.”

Kevin Lockwood, Manager of the Darwin, Pride Hill and Riverside Shopping Centres, said: “The Severn Hospice is a wonderful local charity that means a lot to so many people.

“Their work has touched the lives of very many people from Shrewsbury and the whole of Shropshire and clearly means a lot to Suzanne and we hope it will be a big success and also be a fitting celebration of her first year in business here in the town.”

For more information about the event or for tickets call into  Heavenly Brides and Belles in Pride Hill Shopping Centre or call 01743 249080.

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