November 2014 – The annual Beef and Beer Dinner organised by the Manorlands Challenge Committee to raise funds for Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope was a huge success with the 266 guests digging deep to raise an amazing amount for its local services. £42,000 was raised on the night through ticket sales, lucky dip raffle and an auction.
The dinner was once again held at the Craiglands Hotel, Ilkley and as in previous years guests enjoyed prime sirloin of beef donated by Dovecote Park near Pontefract, producers of finest British beef, and cask ales donated by Timothy Taylor & Co Ltd.
This year’s guest speaker was Gary Verity, the Chief Executive of Yorkshire’s tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire, who entertained the audience with amusing anecdotes about the Tour de France Grand Depart.
Master of Ceremonies was Charles Dent, Managing Director of Timothy Taylor’s, with an extremely successful auction conducted by professional auctioneer Richard Waring.
Commenting on the evening Sue Ryder Senior Hospice Fundraiser Rachel Cunningham said, ‘We are once again delighted with the success of this dinner that has now become an important date on our fundraising calendar. The Manorlands Challenge Committee have raised over half a million pounds in their ten year history, and we are so very grateful to them all for their generosity, energy and support.’
Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice provides incredible palliative care and support for people with life limiting illnesses living in Craven, Airedale, and Wharfedale as well as central, northern and western areas of Bradford. To maintain its vital services the hospice needs to raise £1.6 million from voluntary donations every year.
Pictures: The Manorlands Challenge Committee
