MORE than £20,000 was raised at a charity night organised by cancer patient Betty Carry in support of the “wonderful” hospice which is supporting her as she battles the devastating disease.
Roughly 250 people joined Betty and her husband Mick at the fundraiser - which took place at their local watering hole, St Kentigern’s Irish Club, over the weekend – helping to raise just over £20,000 for St Ann’s Hospice in Manchester.
And the Carry family are still in shock at the “amazing” turnout by friends, family and well-wishers.
“It was such a fantastic night and the money we raised, honestly, was well beyond even our wildest expectations,” Mick Carry told The Irish Post today.
“Betty and I were just amazed, so many people came and bought tickets and were so generous when it came to the raffle and auction, it was just so much better than we ever expected.”
The event, which took place at the popular Fallowfield Irish club on Friday, March 27, was organised by the Carrys to “give something back” to the local hospice which Dublin-born Betty attends once a week.
The mother-of-two, who moved to Manchester with her family at the age of seven, was diagnosed with stage four terminal lung cancer two years ago.
This year she received the heart-breaking news that as the cancer has now spread across her body there is nothing more her doctors can do for her.
But refusing to let the diagnosis “get her down” Betty instead devoted her energies to planning the fundraiser - which included music, Irish dancing and an auction before a set by DJ Joe Casserley brought revellers onto the door floor until the early hours.
“We had such a great night and were all there enjoying ourselves until after 2am – the night just flew by,” Mick explained.
“We just want to thank everyone who supported us in any way, or who came along on the night, for helping to make it such a success.”
He added: “In particular we want to thank Lucy Smith, Mary Griffin, Lisa Moran and everyone at O’Connor Utilities for their ongoing support and help to make this night happen. Also our daughter Jenna, who worked so hard on it, and of course to Kevin Fitzpatrick at St. Kentigern’s. Without all of their tremendous efforts it would not have been the success it was.”
