1:28pm Wednesday 18th September 2002
By Joseph O Shea
Fund-raising for the James Haddad Appeal is now in full swing, and three events last week helped push the total above £30,000 for the first time.
The appeal fund was set up in March to help the West Croydon nine-year-old, who suffers from a brain condition, to receive pioneering treatment in America or Canada and fulfil his childhood ambitions.
The target figure of £80,000 is still some way off but recent local efforts have given the appeal a real boost.
The highlight of three days of events took place at Kudos nightclub on September 12. Over 200 people attended an evening of music and entertainment, which included a live performance by local R&B duo LA Zakatek, an auction and raffle in aid of the appeal.
The Haddad family arrived in a specially-provided limousine and despite his condition James, who is now wheel-chair bound, managed to open the evening with a speech, before later telling some jokes.
More than £2,500 was raised, with generous bids raising £1,483 in an auction.
James' mother Sue said: "The evening was brilliant and James had a wonderful time. We can't thank everyone enough for their efforts!"
The previous night at My Old China restaurant, Purley, 80 guests enjoyed a Chinese banquet, together with an auction and raffle, raising over £2,000.
A similar evening is being held on Thursday, September 19, at William Chan's restaurant.
On Friday night, a group of kind-hearted Purley parents and parishioners from St John the Baptist church held a quiz evening at John Fisher Sports Pavillion, raising a superb £2,526 for the appeal.
Further events are planned including a chance to win a Lexus car in the Whitgift Centre from Sunday September 29, to Thursday October 3, and an all-day rowing marathon by Croydon Fire Brigade also in the Whitgift on October 10.
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