Bath Rugby Foundation recently celebrated their 10th Anniversary with a birthday party themed fundraising ball at Bath’s Assembly Rooms, raising over £10,500.
Guests enjoying the night included Sir James Dyson, Chairman of Bath Rugby Bruce Craig, Chief Executive of BaNES Council Dr Jo Farrar, Councillor Paul Crossley and many of the local business community, including Thrings, Barclays, Deloitte, The Consortium and Withy King.
Bath Rugby players, including Stuart Hooper, George Ford, Gavin Henson, Carl Ferns and Jonathan Joseph, also came out in force to show their support for the Foundation as they reached the ten year milestone.
Colourful party hats and a photo-booth, complete with amusing props, ensured guests got into the birthday party spirit. There was even some good old fashioned party games such as head and tails and pass the parcel, albeit with a signed rugby ball as the final prize.
While the night was a celebration there was also the serious business of raising money to ensure Bath Rugby Foundation, which is an independent charity funded entirely by fundraising, sponsorship and donations, is able to continue its work for another ten years.
Auction lots on the night included a signed England 6 Nations Rugby Shirt, F1 Winner’s Jeroboam of champagne, a Cocktails Masterclass for ten at The Porter, a private shopping experience with Amanda Wakely and even the Bath Rugby flag from the top of Farleigh House, signed by the squad.
The room proved to be incredibly generous, with the most successful auction item on the night being the Come Dine with Me at Farleigh House lot, a meal with Lee Mears and Danny Grewcock at Farleigh House, which went for an impressive £1,500. In total the auction raised over £9,000, while the night as a whole raised over £10,500.
Halena Coury, Bath Rugby Foundation Head of Fundraising, said: “Our 10th Anniversary ball was all about celebration. It was about celebrating Bath Rugby Foundation’s work with children and young people in the local community over the past ten years. It was about celebrating the real differences we have been able to make on their lives through the power of sport. It was also about celebrating all our sponsors, partners, volunteers and fundraisers who have helped make our work possible.
“It was a wonderful evening and we are incredibly grateful to everyone for coming along and for being so generous on the night. With their continued support we will be able to carry on working with children in the community for another ten years to come.”
Bath Rugby Foundation was established on 22nd November 2003, in the same week that England won the Rugby World Cup. Since that date the Foundation has proudly worked with over 125,000 children in the local community.
Throughout the last ten years their aims have remained the same. To enhance the lives of young people through sport and to motivate, raise self esteem, increase confidence and improve life skills by imparting the values found in rugby – camaraderie, loyalty, discipline and respect.
The 10th Anniversary Ball kicks off a year of celebrations for Bath Rugby Foundation with more exciting events lined up. In particular, this year sees Bath Rugby Foundation’s most ambitious programme of fundraising challenges to date, with events such as Men’s Walk 2014, Cycle to Gloucester, Bath Half and a bike ride from Switzerland to the South of France.
Bath Rugby Foundation is encouraging everyone to be a part of their 10th Anniversary celebrations by taking up a challenge to help raise money to keep the Foundation going for another 10 years.
For further information on all Bath Rugby Foundation’s fundraising challenges, visit www.bathrugbyfoundation.com
