The courage and inspiration of a young Lancashire mum is behind a fundraising drive to raise cash for research into Cystic Fibrosis and to help the homeless.
And the county’s business community is being urged to get behind the project which is being led by a Leyland-based company boss.
Mum-of-one Laura Black died in March last year aged 36 after a long and brave battle against the illness.
Laura, from Padiham, shared the story of her fight with Cystic Fibrosis, her battle to live a normal life and her wait for a transplant operation that could have transformed her life, with an inspirational online blog.
Now one of her closest friends, Kim Logan, who runs a community interest company based in Leyland, is putting together a special fundraising event to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
And she is looking for the Lancashire business community to come together to support the fundraising efforts.
The charity dinner, on Friday March 16 at Leigh Sports Village, will also raise money for Teardrops, an organisation that supports the homeless in the North West.
The evening will include a three-course meal, first-class entertainment, a raffle and silent auction, as well as presentations from both charities. It will be hosted by BBC North West Tonight’s Chief Reporter Dave Guest.
Kim, managing director of ADR Mediation & Training CIC, which is organising the fundraiser, said of Laura: “She was such a brilliant, inspirational person, much loved and greatly missed.
“She was a great mum, always full of life, smiling and chatty. Her story and life was such an inspiration to so many people that we thought it would be a fitting tribute to put together an event to raise money to help combat the horrible illness she fought so hard against.”
She added: “Laura’s family will be there on the night, and we’re looking forward to an event which celebrates her life and is filled with fun, something Laura had in abundance.”
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic condition affecting more than 10,400 people in the UK. You are born with CF and cannot catch it later in life, but one in 25 of us carry the faulty gene that causes it, usually without knowing.
The Cystic Fibrosis Trust, founded in 1964 we is dedicated to promoting excellence in research and clinical care, as well as providing practical support and advice to people with CF and their families.
The ‘Teardrops4CF’ evening will also raise money for the Teardrops organisation. Its team of volunteers works in deprived areas giving support and advice to the homeless, rough sleepers and the vulnerable.
The charity operates a night café for homeless people in St Helens, has outreach and crisis intervention programmes and helps people looking for employment as well as offering resettlement support.
The team at ADR putting together the event are hoping to raise a total of £8,000 which will be divided between the two charities.
Tickets for the event are £49.95 each. A table of ten costs £450 with tables of 12 available for £525.
Sponsorship packages are also available. Kim said: “We’re looking for businesses to support us, raise money for some really worthwhile causes and join us for a fantastic evening’s entertainment.”
