Fundraisers inspired by charity's work reveal auction prizes for event

The Dance for the Harry Johnson Trust will be taking place at Shrewsbury Town Football Club’s Montgomery Waters Meadow from 7pm on March 30.

The event will include a three-course meal, a string quartet, a magician, a band and an auction hosted by Christina Trevanion.

It has been inspired by the work being done to help the family of Cleo Postlethwaite, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour, for which there is no known cure, last year.

Jane James, one of the organisers, has urged people to snap up tickets for the event, where they can bid on a host of auction prizes, including a spa package, a BMW for the weekend, a two seater aircraft flying lesson, a Morgan for the weekend, VIP tickets to Let's Rock Shrewsbury, a VIP match experience for four people at Shrewsbury Town Football Club, and a signed framed photo of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.

Jane said they were delighted with the prizes and offered her thanks to the companies and organisations which have donated them.

She said: "I’m very excited to announce the final list of auction prizes, there are some absolutely amazing experiences up for grabs! I would really like to encourage people to purchase their tickets and join us for what is going to be not only a fabulous night out, but also help to raise money for such a worthy local cause."

Explaining why they had wanted to organise the event, Jane said: “We are a group of friends and colleagues of Alex Postlethwaite, and were devastated to hear of his 10-year-old daughter Cleo’s brain tumour diagnosis last year.

“After learning of the situation we all felt that we wanted to do something to show our support to Alex and his family, and after speaking to him he explained how closely Cleo and the family were being supported through this difficult time by the Harry Johnson Trust, and requested that any fund raising we do should be for them.

“We wanted to do something big to raise awareness as well as money for the charity, who do such amazing work for Shropshire families dealing with childhood cancer, hence why we are organising this dinner dance and auction.”

Live music will be provided by Izzy and the Hotheads as the evening progresses, and Jane said that the dress code “will be smart, black-tie encouraged but optional”.

Tickets cost £50 and are available at https://www.theharryjohnsontrust.co.uk/product/charity-dinner-dance-ticket/

Group bookings are also available for tables of 10, and people can e-mail danceforthjtrust@gmail.com for more information or to reserve a table.

The Harry Johnson Trust was established in November 2014 following the death of seven-year-old Harry in July of that year, following a nine-month fight with Double Hit Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

The trust offers help and support to children and teenagers who receive care from the Oncology Team at The Princess Royal Hospital in Shropshire.