MORE than £90,000 has been raised at a star-studded event in memory of a tragic Bolton mother.
Football pundit Iain Dowie’s wife, Debbie Dowie, organised the fundraiser for her charity, Boot Out Breast Cancer, in tribute to her friend Kay Gibson who lost her battle with the disease on October 24 last year.
Kay, a mother of three, worked as a pharmacist at Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan.
The £90,000 will go to South Lancashire breast screening unit at the infirmary to buy state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment.
The northern soul event was held at The Point at Lancashire County Cricket Club.
Boot Out Breast Cancer patrons paralympian Sarah Storey, a gold medal winner, and footballing legend Alan Shearer attended, along with Wigan Athletic defender Emmerson Boyce and Bolton Wanderers captain Kevin Davies.
Sarah became the greatest British Paralympian in the modern era after winning four gold medals in road and track cycling at London 2012 Paralympics. She was accompanied by Barney Storey, a top sprint tadem ‘pilot’ who won a gold in London.
Other guests included actress Nikki Sanderson and Peter Cox, lead singer with Go West.
Sports presenter Hugh Ferris compered the evening, playing the part of auctioneer alongside Iain Dowie.
The evening drew to a close with guests on their feet for northern soul classics.
Entertainment was also provided by Bolton brother and sister Joel and Rebecca Rothwell and frontman Pete Cox.
Boot Out Breast Cancer’s committee is now planning next year’s event to fund equipment for another hospital.
Mrs Dowie, who launched the charity following her own battle with breast cancer, said: “I am absolutely delighted how much money was raised on the night and that everybody had a fabulous night.
“But most importantly I am thrilled that Boot Out Breast Cancer will now be able to provide the latest diagnostic equipment for South Lancashire Breast Screening Unit in Kay’s memory, in a hospital where she worked.”
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