The 2016-2017 mayoress’s charity appeal has raised £19,500.

As one of their final engagements the retiring Mayor and Mayoress of Douglas Councillor John Skinner and Mrs Gill Skinner held a reception at Douglas town hall for representatives and supporters of the three charities benefiting from the appeal: Anthony Nolan Isle of Man, Manx Decaf and Naseem’s Manx Brain Tumour Charity.

Guest heard the Mayoress say that thanks to the generous support of volunteers, the fundraising committee, supporters and members of the public the appeal had exceeded expectations. ‘We set a target of £15,000 and wanted every pound and every penny raised to make a difference,’ she said.

‘Our fundraisers were chosen to appeal to a wide range of people from all areas of the community. Events included a walking family treasure hunt, a classical afternoon tea, a barn Dance with a mhelliah and a caelidh band, a ghost walk, a junior talent show, carol singing, a murder mystery evening, A Century of Song variety show at the Villa Marina, the Mayor's ball, an Italian-themed evening and a President of Tynwald’s lunch.’

She went on to explain that for Anthony Nolan Isle of Man £6,500 equated to 65 more people in the island able to sign up to the bone marrow register, ‘giving 65 more chances for someone with leukaemia’; for Manx Decaf the money would secure 43 afternoon socials and therapeutic sessions for people with Alzheimer’s and their carers; and for Naseem’s Manx Brain Tumour Charity the money would pay for up to 20 grants for people living with brain tumours. She said: ‘Grants have included funding one family to spend a weekend visiting a patient undergoing a long period of chemotherapy in the UK, another for buying a travel cot so grandparents could look after a grandchild and one which make a visit to their favourite football team possible for one young person.

‘None of these charities has any paid staff or any fundraisers so every single penny will go directly to those who need it most and John and I would like to sincerely thank every single person who has supported us this year.’

The retiring Mayor and Mayoress with Ivan Bratty, Councillor Raina Chatel and Gerry Pishvaie

Ivan Bratty and Sam Comaish of Anthony Nolan Isle of Man

Peter Newbold, Nicki Sinclair, Councillor Raina Chatel and Ivan Park of Manx Decaf

Pam Pringle, Gerry Pishvaie, Thea Ozenturk, Emin Garrett and Helen Christian of Naseem's Manx Brain Tumour Charity