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Question
Of Sport Charity Supper
Our celebrity Question of Sport Supper on October 26th may not have bore much resemblance to Sue Barkers orderly TV quiz but it was a fantastic night
out... (more) |
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Eastleigh
Mayor Nominates AAIR
AAIR is honoured and delighted to announce that the new Mayor of Eastleigh councillor Peter Wall has named AAIR as one of his three nominated charities for
2006/7... (more) |
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National
Allergy Week
AAIR would like to thank one of our top allergy experts, professor Martin Church and Southampton Mayor Cllr Edwina Cooke for helping us mark National Allergy week on 15th
May... (more) |
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Three
Castles Trek
A bright Friday morning at the end of April saw eight intrepid walkers gathering in Windsor for our Three Castles path
Trek... (more) |
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A
Night of Surprises at AAIR's Festival Of Dance
AAIR’s sell-out Festival of Dance proved a huge success thanks to a string of fantastic performances and our wonderful host for the evening – celebrity chef James
Martin... (more) |
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CHARITY QUESTION OF SPORT SUPPER
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Click here for lots more pictures from the evening.
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Our celebrity Question of Sport Supper on October 26th may not have bore much resemblance to Sue Barkers orderly TV quiz but it was a fantastic night out. Uncontrollable giggling, bedlam on the buzzers and outright cheating (mentioning no names) were all part of the antics poor quiz master Ian Wilson had the misfortune to preside over.
Captaining the footballers was Saints favourite Lawrie McMenemy with team-mates Jason Dodd and Nicky Banger. While Hampshire's Shaun Udal was skipper of cricketers Robin Smith and John Crawley. This was also the first outing for the Sports Pundits, Simon Walter, James Rose and Simon
Straker, well qualified for a sports quiz courtesy of working as sports reporters. Needless to say all nine panellists were on form, keen to demonstrate their wide knowledge of sporting trivia! AAIR patrons Lawrie and Shaun were particularly brilliant at hogging their bells and buzzers then swiftly referring the questions to their bewildered team-mates.
AAIR director Caroline Pope said: The funniest thing was seeing Lawrie McMenemy frantically squeezing Zebadee the team buzzer. Shaun Udal was in high spirits and the Sports Pundits were under real pressure from the start. The quiz, which is one of AAIRs most popular fund raising events, took place at Southampton's prestigious Rose Bowl and saw all the usual favourite Question of Sport categories plus a few more unconventional rounds such as the simulated golf shots on the play station. AAIR patron Lawrie McMenemy said: After last years event I knew this would be a lot of fun and I wasn't wrong. The crowd and teams were great sports we had lot of fun. Put me down for next year."
For the record: the cricketers came third (also known as last) with the footballers in second - reserving top spot for the newcomers The Sports Pundits. AAIR patron Shaun Udal said: This was a great evening. Of course I'll be looking closely at the team to see who I can blame for our loss, I'm pretty sure it wasn't my fault. The end of evening auction was a real success thanks largely to Shaun who was a natural on the microphone (we're sure there's a job at Christies when you retire) and the generosity of Robin Smith and Lawrie McMenemy for throwing in a last minute star prize of a corporate day with them both at Rose Bowl (lets hope they still remembered it in the morning).
Thanks to the Rose Bowl staff who couldn't have been more helpful. From room set-up and pre-event publicity to service on the night they were really on the ball (no pun intended). Thanks also all those who donated raffle and auction prizes and all those who bought tickets on the night. A big thank you to Ian of Aardvark who set all the questions and compared the evening. AND Magazine took some fabulous photos, as usual, which can be
viewed and ordered from our
website. This was a hugely entertaining sell-out event and is now firmly on the AAIR annual calendar, we may even have to get a trophy for next year. Look out for the return match next October but remember to book early.
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Eastleigh
Mayor nominates AAIR as one of his three chosen
charities.
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AAIR is honoured and delighted to announce that the new Mayor of Eastleigh councillor Peter Wall has named AAIR as one of his three nominated charities for 2006/7.
The Borough’s ‘First Citizen’ was elected by fellow councillors at the annual meeting of the Council in May. Following his decision to support AAIR
Cllr. Wall and his wife Marian visited our labratories and met some of our leading scientists from The University of Southampton’s School of Medicine.
Cllr. Wall said: “I chose AAIR because we’ve had two very sad deaths of young children in Eastleigh due to asthma and allergy. The very sad thing is these two youngsters might still be with us if we knew more about these conditions.”
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Cllr. Wall added that he felt there was a lack of awareness by the general public in realising how serious asthma and allergy attacks could be.
He also admitted he was shocked to learn that 50% of
babies born in the UK will now go on to develop asthma
or an allergy and that the UK has among the highest
incidence of asthma and allergies in the world.
Cllr. Wall said: “Unfortunately as these conditions have become more common we sometimes mistakenly think they’re not serious but infact they can be debilitating and even fatal. AAIR has a very important role to play in getting this message across. I hope that by supporting AAIR in my Mayoral year I can help raise, not just money for vital research, but awareness which is also crucial in helping prevent other asthma and allergy-related deaths.”
AAIR fundraising assistant Nicky Williams said: “We are extremely grateful to the Mayor and Mayoress for their support which will make a huge difference in raising AAIR’s local profile and increasing public awareness of our work.”
As well as AAIR the Mayor has also chosen two other charities to support through various fund-raising events during the Mayoral Year. They are the Eastleigh Young Carers Project and QEII Silver Jubilee Activities
Centre.
The Eastleigh Young Carers Project offers support to young people whose lives are affected by caring for a family member with a disability, long-term illness, mental health problem or dependency on drugs or alcohol.
Young carers regularly take on responsibilities for a family member. Whilst young people sometimes choose to help out at home, young carers are unlikely to have the choice. This means that they don’t have time to go out with their friends, do homework or just relax and simply enjoy their childhood. This project offers someone to talk to, support and information, the chance to meet other young carers and make new friends and to have fun!
QEII Silver Jubilee Activities Centre is based in a 400 acre country park and provides day and residential activity opportunities for people with special needs. Since its opening in 1978 many thousands of people of all abilities have taken part in the activities.
Activities include a wheelchair accessible pontoon, with boat and open canoes allowing everyone to get on the water, indoor climbing walls, archery, zipwire and rope course. In addition to bridleways throughout the country park, the Centre has its own sand school for horse riding.
AAIR looks forward to seeing Councillor Wall and Mrs Wall at many of the forthcoming fundraising events.
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NATIONAL ALLERGY WEEK 15th- 19th May
FIND OUT ABOUT YOUR ALLERGY
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AAIR would like to thank one of our top allergy experts, professor Martin Church and Southampton Mayor Cllr Edwina Cooke for helping us mark National Allergy week on 15th May.
Both helped AAIR stage a one-off FREE allergy information evening, where people from Hampshire were invited to learn more about their asthma and allergies.
Cllr. Cooke kindly hosted the evening at the beautiful Mayor’s Parlour in Southampton’s Civic
Centre, while Professor Church provided an entertaining and informative presentation. The format of humour and simple diagrams made even the most complicated aspects of allergies and asthma easy to understand. The presentation was followed by a question and answer session.
Professor Church, said: ‘The origin of allergy is in the parasite rejection response. What is happening is that the immune system is making the tissues hostile to what it thinks is a parasite invasion. Just imagine the nose in hay fever; lots of mucus production and sneezing!! Would you like this type of reception if you were the invader?’
AAIR Director Caroline Pope said: “Allergies are among the most common chronic disorders, affecting up to an estimated one third of the population and numbers are increasing every year. We are staging this event for free as we want to help as many people as possible.”
This was fantastic ONE-OFF opportunity for adults AND children to get to get to grips with how and why allergies strike.
Professor Church is a Professor of Immunopharmacology at The University of Southampton’s School of Medicine and a member of numerous learned societies. He has also published more that 300 research papers and reviews.
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Three Castles Trek
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Photograph courtesy of The Daily Echo.
Click here for more photographs from the walk
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A bright Friday morning at the end of April saw eight intrepid walkers gathering in Windsor for our Three Castles path Trek. As with all AAIR physical events, the fortunes smiled on us and provided perfect walking conditions.
With luggage safely stowed and rucksacks and drinks, chocolate and cameras at the ready we assembled for the team photo at the gates of Windsor Castle. AAIR mix in only the very best social circles and we were seen off by none other than Prince Phillip who gave us a cheery wave as he passed by in his horse and carriage putting extra spring in our step.
60 miles in four days is tough, very tough, but with great company, scenery, food and drink the event was a very enjoyable affair. Some had very sore feet by the end and the first aid kit was often called upon, but each morning after a few well deserved drinks and a good night's sleep, our walkers were raring to go. The threatened rain never did appear and Monday evening saw us arriving in Winchester to sunshine and a reception committee waving banners and balloons. Welcoming us home was the delightful Charlie Dimmock, cheering us over the finish line. We were then treated to a celebratory dinner courtesy of The Guildhall Tavern, Winchester.
Our thanks must go to Chris for leading the walk, Pam, Ruth, Mimi, John, Chris, Wendy and Audrey for making the event such fun. We raised a total of £3608.99! Every penny of which will be used for asthma and allergy research.
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A Night of Surprises at ‘AAIR’s’ Festival of Dance
Winchester’s Guildhall, Friday March 17th
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Click here for many more photographs and a short video clip of the Festival of Dance
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AAIR’s sell-out Festival of Dance proved a huge success thanks to a string of fantastic performances and our wonderful host for the evening – celebrity chef James Martin.
Among the evening’s amazing displays were a number of unexpected highlights, including an impromptu performance by James. The star sent a taxi to his Winchester home to collect his ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ cape, then put on a dazzling solo display of Pasadoble as a surprise treat.
James said: “It’s great to be involved in a local event such as this and one that benefits a great cause. I thought after Strictly Come Dancing my Dancing shoes would be collecting dust!”
A particularly ‘huge’ entrance was made by ‘Sumo’ dancers Steve and Debbie
Morrall, who performed the Tango in hilarious ‘fat suits’.
Raising the roof with a show-stopping finale were youngsters from the Blair-McCarthy School of Irish Dance whose dazzling routine left the audience spell-bound.
Ocean’s FM’s breakfast team Richard Williams and Louise Reed won massive applause for their dramatic tango routine – the result of just 14 hours of training with TLC’s Tracie Gooch and top international dance teacher Eduardo
Bozzo.
Following their nerve-wracking performance Richard and Louise said the experience had been one of their career highlights. Richard added: “That was the most nervous I have ever been. I was petrified but it was fantastic. Learning to dance is something I have always wanted to do and it was even more exciting than I thought it would be. It's the most fun I've had since I discovered girls. Everything feels a bit flat now, we’ve been working towards this for seven weeks, I won’t know what to do with my spare time now.”
During the evening there was also a poignant tribute to Anuj
Panchmatia, 9, who sadly died following an asthma attack in 2004. His sister,
Aarti, 14, and her fellow dance members of Shree Youth Dance Company wore beautiful national dress to perform a traditional Indian dance in Anuj’s memory.
Other amazing performances included a glittering jazz display by The Fitzell Roberts Dance Industries, flamenco by Inspiracion Espanola plus tango and cha-cha-cha by Tracie Gooch.
Caroline Pope said: “This was an amazing evening. James Martin was a fabulous host and Ocean FM’s breakfast team showed amazing dedication. Obviously our thanks go to all the dance troupes who put in weeks of rehearsals to ensure this was a huge success and to our sponsors Condor Office Solutions Ltd whose support has made this whole event possible.”
Special thanks also go Emma Williams and for all the generous raffle prizes donated by Condor Office Solutions, Ocean FM, A & A Business Supplies Ltd, Penny Smith, Venture Photography, La Vista Restaurant and The White Star Restaurant.
The event has raised over £4,121 towards AAIR’s funding of research into asthma and allergic disease by the team of the world-renowned scientists at the University of Southampton School of Medicine.
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The AAIR Charity,
AIR, Mailpoint 810, Level F, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton,
Hampshire SO16 6YD.
Tel: 023 8077 1234 Fax: 023 8079 6866 |
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