Expats and entertainers boost Efrar funds
EXPAT entertainers and a trio of men who volunteered for a “Brave Shave” provided a festive season boost for the Help Those With Cancer Association (Tulips) and Ziyamet Special Needs School. Hosted by Miss Santa (Annette McKloskey) and Happy Elf (Mary Watson), The Abnormals’ Let’s Go Back in Time show was set in “Santa’s grotto” at The Venue near Esentepe.
Playing to a packed house, “famous people” stopped by to wish the audience a merry Christmas, including Elvis Presley (Martin Ford), Madam Fayth (Martin Foster), Lenny John (Dave Lavender), Marilyn Monroe (Kate Bell) along with the HeeBee GeeBees, The SpiceShells, Leo Say-So and Stevie and Paul. Ticket and raffle sales raised 1,290TL and extra money was donated via a Tulips box,
Paul Lee, Art Watson and Martin Foster also proved a hit by having hair and beards shaved to raise 2,119TL through sponsorship and donations. Their gesture, dedicated to those who lose their hair while undergoing chemotherapy treatment, brought the total collected for the charity to 3,409TL.
Mary Watson, chairman of the Esentepe Fun, Run and Ramble 2018 (Efrar) campaign in aid of Tulips, said: “Once again The Abnormals are raising money for Tulips and, on this occasion, also for Ziyamet Special Needs School. We are so grateful to them for all that they do. The three Brave Shave participants also warrant special mention as they have raised more than 2,000TL for Tulips. A great effort all round.”
Christmas presents that were scattered around the “grotto” have gone to Ziyamet Special Needs School along with an additional 1,800TL collected by Susie Ford at her regular quizzes.
“Thanks must also go to guest Abnormal Mark Matthews, to Marilyn and Paul Lee for doing the raffle and dealing with the money, to The Venue, its staff and to all those who supported the event by giving so generously,” added an Efrar statement.