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.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a double celebration for local girl Suzanne Heavens who opened her Heavenly Brides and Belles in Shrewsbury\u2019s Pride Hill Shopping Centre 12 months ago.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Suzanne said: \u201cI 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy 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\u2019t praise the hospice enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why I decided to organise the event and to raise funds for Severn Hospice at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cTickets are just \u00a335 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you consider that most basic Christmas functions start at around \u00a330 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are lots of other fun things going on too such a photo booth, thanks to JOL Photographic and a raffle with some amazing prizes.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo 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\u2019d welcome donations of any other raffle prizes from anyone who can help.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added: \u201cI\u2019m 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mike Parry, Severn Hospice Community Fundraiser, says he is grateful to Suzanne for raising funds for the hospice.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cWe really are grateful to Suzanne for all her contributions and for the effort she is putting into organising this event.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe rely on the support, generosity and goodwill of people like Suzanne if we are to continue supporting patients suffering from incurable illnesses and conditions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kevin Lockwood, Manager of the Darwin, Pride Hill and Riverside Shopping Centres, said: \u201cThe Severn Hospice is a wonderful local charity that means a lot to so many people.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more information about the event or for tickets call into\u00a0 Heavenly Brides and Belles in Pride Hill Shopping Centre or call 01743 249080.<\/p>\n