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Charity is an important thing to me because it gives me the opportunity to do something good for other people. As a business I like to try and support charities because I am a great believer in "what goes around comes around", and so I'm paying it forward. In the past I ran an event for the sole purpose of raising funds (details below).

Admittedly, the charity I tend to focus on is Just Because, because it was set up many years ago to help a belly dance friend who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. At the time, and as a result of our friend receiving this diagnosis, it was highlighted that many women living in Egypt are not as fortunate, never even finding out that they had this disease, let alone receive treatment for it.

Thankfully, things have changed for the better as a result of this charity being set up, and every hafla I raise money for it.

However, I am not adverse to supporting other charities.

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I am going to be hosting a new charity event this coming September, this time on behalf of MacMillan Cancer Research. I have been contemplating joining the many hundreds and thousands of people supporting this charity for a while now, but have finally decided to bite the bullet.


**** Update ****


I have finally managed to tot up the money collected and the total is £341.23!!! I am flabbergasted. 

Massive thank-you to all those who attended, and for those companies who donated a prize for the raffle. I will be sending letters out to you over the next week


Proof of payment below

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Details:

Saturday 27th September

1..30pm - 5pm

The Stanley Club, 1 Liverpool Old Road, Burscough, L40 5TN

Tickets: £5 (although further donations will be gratefully received)

(Please note: ticket prices are to help cover the room cost, but beyond that will go direct to MacMillan)

Buy Tickets here:

Belly Dance and Cake Charity Event on behalf of MacMillan

£

5.00    

Raffle Prizes Received so far:

My top prize for our raffle is a family ticket to Farmer Ted's for a full day's visit!

For more information visit: 
https://www.farmerteds.com/

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There are two of these prizes up for grabs. A Flotation Therapy voucher for one at Liquid Reset in Lytham St Annes. 



Good for:

Calming the nervous system
Relaxing your muscles
Reducing Blood Pressure
Detoxifying
Boosting Immune Health

and so much more. 

For more information visit: https://liquidreset.co.uk/

Or ask me - I go for a float every month

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A 21 day gift card for Victoria Leisure. This includes any class on the tiometable, use of the gym, swimming pools and spa!!

A lovely, friendly,  family run business 
with lots of classes to choose from, including aqua classes, for yourself or the family. THere's even a small spa should you want to just chill and relax.


For more information visit: 
https://www.victorialeisure.com/

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How about a fun-filled day. With this prize, you receive 2 x day tickets to Southport Flower Show, 2026

Full more details visit: 
https://southportflowershow.co.uk/

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How about a game of Crazy Golf for 2? Donated by The Flower Bowl next to Barton Grange, worth £30.

For more information visit: 
https://www.theflowerbowl.uk

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Fancy some "me" time, re4lasing with a P{ilates class, or Yoga, tai Chi or even Meditation. Well with this prize you can choose any two sessions, whenever you like.

For more information visit: https://www.chakrastudio.co.uk/

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Time for something more "dancy" How about 4 Shimmy Camp classes on zoom with the fabulous Kay Taylor? 

Shmmy Camp is a fun way of keeping fit with just a little hint of belly dance thrown in. A lovely bunch of girls both online and in person. 

For more information visit: https://faridadance.com/faridadance.com/

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Fancy treating yourself to a lovely meal? Then this one is for you. A £20 gift voucher from the Rufford Arms, in Rufford, on the A59. 

I have got a copy of the menu, but if you'd like to look in advance please visit: https://www.ruffordarms.com/

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Boskins Cafe is an independent family-run cafe and bistro located in the middle of Tarleton. It serves lovely foodas well as coffee and cake. 

With this prize you'll receive a £15 voucher to use as you will.

For more information visit: https://www.boskinscafe.co.uk/

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Located in the centre of Burscough and not too far away from the canal, The Hop Vine is known for its fabulous locally sourced food and fully licensed bar. 

With this prize you have £15 to spend on whatever you fancy.

For more information visit: https://www.thehopvine.co.uk/

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For those coffee lovers out there, how about a 1 kg bag of freshly roasted coffee beans direct from the supplier kindly donated by Three Sisters Coffee. 

If you don't have a grinder don't worry: either pop in to Three Sisters for them to do it (or if you ask really nicely I can too although it IS a small grinder and will take a while....)

For more information visit: 
https://threesisterscoffee.co.uk/

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Located at the Burscough Marina, this is the perfect location for a walk along the cancal before stopping off at The Boat House Brasserie where they serve quality food from breakfast to lunch. 

With this prize youl will receive a £10 gift voucher. 

For more information visit: https://theboathouserufford.co.uk/

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For more information visit: 
Also located at Burscough Wharf, the Milkie Bar is the ideal place to visit if you fancy milkshake, ice-cream or ice-cream sundaes!

Perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth. 

With this prize you weill revceive a £10 gift voucher.

For more information visit: https://www.milkiebar.com/

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If you like Sushi then this is the place to go. Situated in Burscough Wharf .

For more information visit: 
https://kaizen-eatery.co.uk/

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A last minute prize, this beautiful plant was kindly donated by Pamela Jane Florist

For more details visit: https://www.farmerteds.com/

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Fancy an ice-cream treat? Tootsies ice-cream parlour not only sells ice-cream, they also cater too. Use this voucher for either a Mr Toots ice-cream, or use it for a discount on something else.

For more information visit: 
https://www.facebook.com/TootsiesIceCream/?locale=en_GB

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How about a cheeky lunchtime treat. Choose from a 6" sub, cookie or crispd and a drink

For more information visit: 
https://www.subway.com

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Other Events


Fundraising for Brain Tumour Reseasrch UK Clatterbridge Cancer Centre:

The event took place in Southport, at the Bijou Cinema.

About this event (from the organisers)

We have decided to raise money for two amazing charities in memory of Kevin Richard Fellows on the 30th Anniversary of his passing from a brain tumour. Kevin was a fit and healthy young man of 31 when he was first diagnosed having shown no symptoms. Clatterbridge Hospital were amazing in all that they did for him. Unfortunately he lost his battle with cancer in 1994 when our daughter Elaine was just 17 months old.

Brain Tumour Research tells me that:-

• 1 in 3 people know someone affected by a brain tumour
• Every 2 hours, someone is diagnosed with a brain tumour in England
• Only 12% of brain tumour patients survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50% across all cancers
• There are over 120 different types of brain tumour
• The direct cause of a brain tumour is still not clear, so more investment in research is urgently needed

These statistics are unbelieveable, however every £2,740 raised will sponsor 1 day of research.
Lets help them continue this vital research for more than 1 day!
Come and join us for some laughs, memories, magic and the satifaction of knowing we are all doing our bit. On the night we will tell you much more about the work of the two charities, about Kevin and our family and hopefully raise a lot of money.

You may be wondering where my link to the charity is. Well, one of my students is friends with the organisers and she asked if I would be interested in performing for them. So here I am :-)

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Sequins On My balcony

Although the event which starred Yvette was many years ago now, and Yvette lost her battle with cancer in 2017,  I am leaving this write up about her event, and about her, on this page as my tribute.

"In 2015 my friend and colleague Anne Kingston and I organized an event which brought Yvette Cowles to the North West with her wonderful one woman show Sequins On My Balcony all about her experiences with life, cancer and belly dance. The hope was that we would raise funds for a charity close to our hearts Just Because, a charity originally created to help a dance friend in need but which developed into helping the women in Egypt who suffer from breast cancer. The evening combined local dance talent with this fantastic show. We also held a raffle that night which consisted of over 40 (yes 40!!!) different prizes all of which had been donated by local businesses. Despite months of working, trudging the streets trying to get raffle prizes, stressing over ticket sales, worrying about not covering costs, taking raffle tickets everywhere we went in the hopes of selling some (the list goes on), I can say without a shadow of doubt that the event was a HUGE success. We managed to raise an incredible £550 for Just Because through ticket sales, raffle ticket sales and donations. The show was a massive success too, and I later discovered that this was one of the last outings that the show had. Sadly Yvette is hanging up Dick Rogers for new pastures. However, knowing Yvette she will have something just as fabulous on the way.

Enjoy the slideshow below of our Sequins On My Balcony event.

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I do still hold raffles at my haflas which occur twice a year, and I have even introduced a new charity to my list: Welcome St Georges