One of Southport’s biggest champions, Pleasureland CEO Norman Wallis, has announced that he will further support the local ‘Make a Change for Ben’ campaign fundraising dinner by donating his lead sponsor table, dinner and private drinks reception with John Barnes to boost fundraising.
The international attractions expert, who stepped in at the last minute to support the October 28 dinner, said he was delighted to be able to offer further help.
Organisers behind the ‘Make a Change for Ben’ Sportsman’s Dinner, sponsored by Southport Pleasureland, will now turn to local companies and other philanthropists offering the opportunity to capture this unmissable experience.
The individual or organisation securing the package will be invited to bring a party of seven people to have dinner and wine with sports pundit and former international footballer, John Barnes, and enjoy private pre-dinner drinks with the sporting legend.
Norman Wallis said: “It will be a great night in great company, and I hope people will step forward and bid for their chance to experience it in the company of one of the city’s sporting heroes.
“The evening is dedicated to raising money to support the change the campaign is aimed at delivering – cleaning up the lake at the Botanic Gardens where Ben slipped into the water, cut his leg and later sadly passed away after contracting a virulent infection. No one should have to go through that. The campaigners are working so hard to raise enough funds to get the work completed. I’d ask companies to dig deep and support the event.”
Campaign spokeswoman, Ben’s cousin Lucy Smith-Crallan, added: “We were thrilled when Mr Wallis offered to step in as headline sponsor just four weeks ahead of the event. Now he’s topped that by giving up the table included in the sponsorship package to allow us another route to raising funds. It is incredibly kind, and we are so touched. We can’t thank him enough.”
