Member Article

North East businesses raise thousands for children's charity at annual ball

Generous representatives from the North East business community have helped Tyneside based international children’s charity COCO (Comrades of Children Overseas) raise over £15,000 at its 14th black-tie ball. The glittering event held at the Grand Hotel, Gosforth Park in Newcastle on Saturday 23rd November, saw 196 guests dig deep to ensure the annual fundraiser was another success; raising much-needed funds to support the charity’s education projects in East Africa.

The 2019 COCO Ball was hosted by former Heart North East breakfast show presenter Justin Lockwood, with entertainment provided by dancefloor-filling North East soul band, Gotcha. COCO’s CEO Lucy Kendall and co-founder Steve Cram CBE also took to the stage to help co-ordinate fundraising that included an auction, prize draw and silent auction.

As well as being an opportunity to get dressed up and have a good time, the COCO Ball was a chance to remind people of COCO’s achievements to-date and its future priorities. Guests heard about the many aspects of COCO’s work to support sustainable education projects in East Africa, including the Save Mercy Primary Appeal which is aiming to raise over £40,000 to build five urgently needed classrooms at the Kenyan school, so that it can continue to deliver vital education to young people in the region.

Lucy Kendall, CEO of COCO, comments: “Once again we have been bowled over by the generosity of our supporter in the North East community who came together to help us raise a fantastic £15,000 at our annual COCO Ball. These funds help to ensure we can continue to make a difference to the lives of young people and their families in East Africa by enabling them to access the quality education that is essential for improving their future prospects.

“It was a truly spectacular occasion with plenty of glitz, fantastic entertainment and generosity from COCO supporters old and new. We’re grateful to everyone who joined us and contributed to such a brilliant total on the night.”

The COCO Ball was sponsored by the Grand Hotel Gosforth Park and Grosvenor Casinos.

Co-founded in 2000 by Steve Cram CBE and British Army Major Jim Panton, COCO has grown into one of the North East’s most dynamic and well-loved charities, working in partnership with remote communities across East Africa to provide access to the quality education that is essential for a good start in life. Since its inception, the charity has raised over £4.5 million to fund small, community led programmes. COCO and its partners have now undertaken 66 transformational projects in 16 countries, positively impacting on the lives of over 200,000 people.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Chris Lines .