A FUNDRAISER celebrating the Chinese Year of the Monkey has raised over £1,000 for Liverpool charities including Housing People, Building Communities (HPBC).
Attended by around a hundred guests, the dinner at the Chung Ku restaurant on Liverpool’s waterfront included lion dancing and a martial arts display by members of the Liverpool Hung Gar Kung Fu school.
VIP guests included the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Tony Concepcion, and the money raised will be shared between HPBC and the Lord Mayor’s official charities, Ronald McDonald House at Alder Hey, Kids in Need and Distress (KIND) and Lister Steps Carnegie Community Hub.
Among the more unusual raffle prizes were tools and materials donated to Housing People, Building Communities by DIY and trade retailer Wickes.
Family and friends of event organiser Charalene Lee provided other prizes for the raffle and tombola and her five-year-old niece Lily charmed guests with her dancing.
Liza Parry, chief executive of HPBC, said:
“This is the second year that the Chung Ku has very kindly hosted an event of this kind to raise money for ourselves and the Lord Mayor’s charities. As last year, the venue was stunning, the food was delicious and the entertainment was excellent.
“We’ve been building 32 low-cost homes in Granby-Toxteth with the help of home partners, volunteers and companies who donate money, materials and gifts in kind. That project is very nearly complete and we’re now actively seeking sites and funding for future projects so that we can carry on the work we’ve started.
“Events like the Chinese Year of the Monkey celebration help raise awareness as well as cash and we’re extremely grateful to Charalene, for organising, and Norman Shum at the Chung Ku for their support.”
The Lord Mayor, Cllr Tony Concepcion, said:
"I was delighted to attend the second annual Chinese New Year celebrations at the Chung Ku Restaurant, with martial art displays, lion dancers, contemporary Chinese dance and fabulous food; we had a fantastic night of music and entertainment as well raising funds for local charities.”
For more about Housing People, Building Communities visit the HPBC website.