Rachel’s night beats 2012 total

Overgate Hospice fundraiser at Casa, Brighouse.

Rachel Bray pledged to raise funds for the Elland hospice after her husband Jez died from a rare form of stomach cancer at the age of 52 in August 2011.

Last year she raised £10,180 and although she secretly wanted to exceed that with this year’s event she never thought it would be possible.

But on Friday night at the Casa in Elland Road, Brighouse, Rachel raised an astonishing £11,101.

All smiles at the Overgate Hospice fundraiser, Casa, Brighouse.

“I knew it was going to be difficult to beat last year’s and I wasn’t overconfident that I could, but when I was adding it up at the end of the night I was so happy that I had exceeded it,” said Rachel.

The evening consisted of a three-course meal, a tombola which raised £1,700, signed £10 notes and an auction which raised in excess of £4,000. There was also live music from Swift Quintet.

“The feedback I have had is that everyone had a great time. It all went really well and I think everyone enjoyed themselves. It took a lot of organising but it was worth it on the night,” said Rachel. “This year we managed to get most of the fund-raising team from Overgate so that was nice.

“We had more than 190 people with some new faces compared to last year.”

Rachel Bray with daughters Emma and Charlotte Malcolm at the Overgate Hospice fundraiser, Casa, Brighouse.

The compere for the evening was Graham Ward who stepped in at the last minute and Jack McDaid donated the marquee for the evening.

“It was a real family effort to organise the night,” said Rachel.

“I would like to thank everybody that came and spent their money and also everybody that donated or helped in anyway.”