Celebrities support Winchester Charity Dinner Dance

Added: (Thu Jun 25 2009)

Pressbox (Press Release) - PRESS RELEASE and PHOTO CALL
Thursday 25th June 2009

Celebrities support Winchester Charity Dinner Dance

Rebecca Adlington (double Olympic gold-medal swimming champion and OBE awardee) and Mathew Bose (recent star in Emmerdale), are Ambassadors for the Encephalitis Society and are lending their support to the Encephalitis Society Fundraising Dinner Dance on 26th June 2009 at the Winchester Hotel, in Winchester.

The Charity Ball has been the mastermind of Encephalitis Society member, Tim Bond and Managing Director of U&P Recruitment in Chandler’s Ford. Tim contracted Encephalitis in 2007. Tim says, “I’m not fully recovered but I’m a lot better than I was and I know I’m much luckier than a lot of people hit by this potentially deadly illness. Now I’m in a position to help the charity that helped me and extended the hand of friendship when I so desperately needed comfort and support”.

Mathew Bose is attending the dinner dance and has, with the help of the Encephalitis Society, also supported a close friend affected by Encephalitis in 2006. Mathew says, “The work of the Society is close to my heart because I have a school friend who contracted the disease. After all the help I have received from the Encephalitis Society I am eager to do whatever I can to support them.”

Rebecca Adlington, unable to attend due to competition and training commitments, has donated for auction on the night, an opportunity for a family to meet with her and up to two of their children to receive a personal poolside coaching session along with signed goodies donated by Speedo. Rebecca says, “A few years ago, my sister Laura suffered from encephalitis, so when we found the Encephalitis Society, a charity which supports people affected by the illness, it seemed like a great cause to commit to. At the time she became ill we knew nothing about the illness and therefore I hope to raise awareness of the illness in the hope that other families don't have to go through what we did. It means a lot that my success in the swimming pool will enable me to increase the understanding of the disease and hopefully help raise funds to undertake additional research”.

Ava Easton, Development Manager at the Encephalitis Society, says “Without the help of members like Tim, and the support of Rebecca and Mathew, things would be much bleaker for the Society. More and more charities seem to be competing for ever-reducing pots of money”.

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain, usually caused by infection. The condition is indiscriminate, striking adults and children alike, showing no respect for age, gender, ethnic origin or culture. Mortality rates are high and many of those who survive are left with an acquired brain injury, the degree and severity of which will vary. Their difficulties may include cognitive, physical, emotional, behavioural, or psychosocial consequences.

The Encephalitis Society was founded in 1994, is a registered charity and the only resource of its kind in the world providing direct support and information to people affected by Encephalitis. The Society answers over 2000 calls for support and information from people affected and their families in the UK and Ireland, each year. Their Website receives 2000 hits from all over the world each week and the staff team do what they can to respond to the many requests and emails received from across the globe.

If you would like to arrange telephone interviews, send a photographer or crew to the press conference/photocall on 26th June 2009, where Mathew Bose, Tim Bond and Ava Easton will be available or if you require more information regarding possible interviews or this release please contact Ava Easton at avaeaston@yahoo.co.uk or Tel: 07967 656170

The Encephalitis Society
7b Saville Street, Malton, YO17 7LL
www.encephalitis.info