1920s style dinner in aid of children’s diabetes charity

A LOCAL mum is holding a ‘Gangsters and Molls’ themed dinner next weekend to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in aid of her daughter. 

Donna Hall will be holding the event at Westbury Labour Club on Saturday 19th March, from 7pm. She has been fundraising for the charity since her now 14 year-old daughter Cerys was diagnosed with type one diabetes aged nine.

Donna said, “I’m very much looking forward to the event. What I love most about organising these events is the way everyone comes together for the same cause, and how encouraging people are. The diabetic community is a very supportive one and we all take inspiration from each other.

“My partner Phill and I decided on a ‘Gangsters and Molls’ themed event to celebrate all that was great about that era; the jazz and blues, the smart suits and Flapper dresses – it’s a fun theme and the singers we have coming along will complement that greatly.”

The evening will have a three-course meal with entertainment from jazz and blues singers, a magician, pop-up salon, and a clown for the children. Guests are invited to dress in styles from the Jazz Age in 1920s’ America. Tickets  must be bought in advance and cost £20 for adults and £8 for children.

Donna, who has organised a number of fundraisers in the past five years continued, “All of my events bar one have been for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

“Cerys is now 14 and the diagnosis brought with it a huge learning curve. We quickly had to learn what variables affect the blood sugar, how to pre-empt that, constant management of blood sugars and the calculation of all carbohydrate eaten.

“She didn’t cause it. It is not attributed to diet or lifestyle. Children with type one diabetes have to plan life more carefully and simple sickness bugs can mean a hospital stay.

“My main aim is to not sit back and watch Cerys live with the condition, but to be pro-active and hope that one day my fundraising contributed even in a tiny way to her not living with it.

“This night promises to bring a touch of class. It’s a sit down three-course meal from a very reputable local catering company and the three professional singers – Slim Ditty, Merlot Chateuse and Cassie Scott – are all excited to be performing their selection of jazz and blues songs.”

For more information about the event or to buy tickets, visit the ‘Gangsters and Molls March Event for Juvenile Diabetes’ Facebook page, or email Donna on donnamichellehall@hotmail.com

Donna also runs a support group called the Insulin Gang for children affected by diabetes and their parents. Find out more about that by searching ‘Adventures of the Insulin Gang traveling bears’ on Facebook.