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Women's World: Pampering with Petra pulls in thousands
HOW do you get women to part with their money?
By offering them Champagne, chocolate, pampering treats and some hunky men – that's how.
Business woman Petra Sweeney discovered the winning formula last year when she opened up her plush home in the Luddenden valley to lots of local women to raise much needed funds for a new sixth form centre at North Halifax Grammar School.
The two-day event raised over 7,000 for the centre, which recently opened and was such a huge success that women begged Petra for a repeat performance this year.
So two days became four, 50 women became almost 100 and even more mo-ney was raised. This time the total topped 11,000 which will go towards furniture. An exhausted Petra, who is a property developer, said while it was a lot of hard work to organise, it was such good fun that she is already planning a similar event next year for a local charity.
"Most women are always on the go – our work never stops – so when we get an opportunity to chill out with friends we grab it with both hands.
That's why my pampering days work," says Petra who has three sons with husband Bob, who used to own the Olympic Health Studio in Halifax.
Local mums paid 100 for the treat, which included Champagne served by Halifax rugby league players, Ben Black and Frank Watene, a three course lunch, a manicure, pedicure, massage and foot detox by students from Calderdale College and a swim in Petra's outdoor pool.
Food was provided by the Rim Nam Thai restaurant, Hebden Bridge, on the first day and the other three days Lesley Maslen, whose husband, Graham is head teacher at North Halifax, was in the kitchen.
"Lesley is a fabulous cook and her chocolate dessert went down a treat.
It consisted of a plateau of five different chocolate treats. One woman loved it so much she paid 10 to take one home for her husband," says Petra whose youngest son, 13-year-old Ryan attends North Halifax.
Her middle son, Gareth, works for HBOS, which sponsored the event.
Other money came from a silent auction, a raffle and a jewellery sale. "We were very lucky with the weather and 95 per cent of the women who attended had a swim. Most said they had such a good time they would come again next year so it looks as if it might have to be an annual event. I've yet to decide which charity I'll do it for next year," says Petra whose oldest son, Robert, has just finished college.
Students from Calderdale college, who gave their services free were supervised by tutor Angela Owen and therapist Linda Norcliffe, was also on hand to offer reki treatments.
The Parents' Association at North Halifax raised 100,000 of the 900,000 needed to build the new centre which is home to 315 students.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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