Cumbria Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas Lunch and Charity Auction event brought festive cheer to the business community last week and raised just under £5,000 (£4,925) for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS)!
The event, held on Friday 6th December at the North Lakes Hotel in Penrith, welcomed over 50 members of the Chamber and the wider business community for a social afternoon of food, networking and giving back.
The festivities began with a networking drinks reception, where attendees mingled and caught up with friends and colleagues. Shortly after, guests were invited to sit down in the restaurant for a delicious three-course festive lunch served by the team at North Lakes.
During the meal, prizes were awarded to the best dressed guests, with Christine Courtney of Light in the Dark Hypnotherapy winning best dressed woman and Grahame Latus of Enterprise Answers winning best dressed man.
The highlight of the event was the charity auction, presided over by none other than Kev Warman, Engagement Manager at the Chamber, who took to the stage dressed as Santa Claus (with a twist!). Kev’s enthusiastic and humorous approach brought great energy to the room as he auctioned off an impressive selection of prizes generously donated by local businesses.
Auction lots (which numbered 52 in total!) included hotel stays, luxury experiences, hampers, gift vouchers, and even a wet & dry vacuum. Natasha Banks of GNAAS thanked the participants involved in the auction and gave an overview of the essential, lifesaving work done by the charity.
Natasha Banks, specialist fundraiser at GNAAS, said: “We were delighted to hear that nearly £5,000 had been raised at the Chamber’s Christmas lunch. As a charity, we do not receive government funding and need to raise £9.3m a year to remain operational, so we’re very appreciative of this donation. Thank you to the organisers of the event and everyone who attended and supported GNAAS.”
Kev said: “We’re thrilled to have raised nearly £5,000 for the Great North Air Ambulance Service! The Chamber’s annual Christmas lunch is always great fun, but this year’s event took it to another level – a fantastic way to celebrate Christmas and bring our business community together, while supporting a charity that provides such vital services to our region. I’d like to thank all the attendees, prize donors, and the North Lakes Hotel team for making the event such a success!
Our thanks to the local businesses who donated lots for the auction. These include:
Prima Group
Sir Woofchester’s
LSL Consultancy
Sassy Property Styling
Make the Lakes
WCF
Windermere Lakes Cruises
North County Show
Harmony Rejuvenation
Kendal Brewery Arts Centre
Crown Inn Pooley Bridge
Sedbergh Soap
Julie Wannop
Appleby Manor
Center Parcs
Bugalugs Pet Care
Mean Old Scene
Lake District Fishing
Hawkshead Relish
Laura Cadman
Bike Hike and Paddle
Lakeland Artisan
Out of Eden
Jayyva
Ullswater Far Boathouse
K P & E J Knight
Holker Hall & Gardens
Nilfisk
Scott Duff
Ravenstone Wellness
Julie Kemp
DSB Training
Grasmere Gingerbread
LANSS
Ginger Bakers
The New Bookshop
Carlisle Brewing Co
AJ Security
Spencer B. Hodgetts
Copper Beech Trading
Kin Vodka
Atkinson Builders
Barrow AFC
Lakes Distillery
The Jockey Club
Cumbrian Boerewors
Holker Estate
Millcroft Vets
Ennerdale Brewery
Traybakes
