Chiswick Dinner Dance Raises Over £25,000 for ActionAid

Funds will help rebuild school in impoverished community of Ikot Mfon, Nigeria

On Saturday 29 January, 141 guests attended an African themed Dinner Dance at The Union Chiswick Bar & Grill.

The event successfully raised £25,500 for ActionAid to rebuild a dangerously dilapidated school in the impoverished community of Ikot Mfon in South Eastern Nigeria. The project 'Driving Education Forward' was initiated by Jo Hill, in memory of her sister Alison Baxter who lost her life last Easter, aged 37, following a five year struggle with breast cancer.

Jo and her family chose ActionAid because Alison sponsored the education of a boy called Sunday Aaron in Ikot Mfon and they wished to continue the work that she so passionately believed in.

The project will rebuild a dilapidated school and give it a sustainable future - with books, learning materials and other school equipment and making it a keystone of the local community - thus providing more than 700 children in this area with a decent education.

Jo brought together a committee of seven Chiswick mums to organise the event with the initial hope of raising £3-5,000. Local estate agents Tate Partnership and Andrew Nunn sponsored the event and the committee gathered over 100 substantial prizes to raise money through a raffle and auction.

Prior to the event ChiswickW4.com hosted an online auction attracting bids totally more than £5,000 before the night even began. On the night Sotheby's auctioneer Adrian Biddell provided wonderful entertainment, tempting and teasing guests to rally bids of £550 for a football signed by Manchester United, £2,000 and £1,600 for holiday accommodation in the French Alps and Alderney respectively, £1,000 for a zebra painting by local artist Jodie Glen-Martin and £270 for lunch at La Trompette.

Snappy Snaps, Chiswick, generously provided a photographer who captured the essence of the evening and souvenir photos of guests posing with a life size zebra prop.

The committee were thrilled that the evening rocketed past their initial expectations to raise £25,500.

Jo and her family are still seeking to raise a further £12,000 to enable the project to be completed and would welcome donations. Donations can be made online http://www.myactionaid.org.uk/dinnerdance/an-evening-for-alison

February 7, 2011