On World Sight Day, Thursday 11 October 2012, we invited our friends and supporters to a Prosecco & Antipasto fundraising evening, to the accompaniment of live music.

The event ran from 7pm to 9.30pm at Queen Alexandra College in Birmingham, and guests were welcomed with a sparkling glass of prosecco to the smooth sounds of the Cloud Nine band in the background.

Cloud Nine musicians Roy Sainsbury (guitar), Charlie Wright (sax) and John O’Connor (base) all donated their services for the evening to NBCS.

Dress code was smart and while the antipasto was served and the drinks flowed guests listened to NBCS Chief Executive Carolyn Fullard talk about the services that we offer to children with a visual impairment and their families, and how important the support of local people is to us.

Carolyn was followed by ‘Blind’ Dave Heeley, the man who did 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days. Dave regaled us with stories of his life and achievements and also talked about how you can be penalised financially when you are visually impaired, for example with some items of technology being a lot more expensive if you need them to talk to you.

At 8.30pm Carolyn and Dave ran an auction where guests bid for items that had been donated to us. Four items were auctioned – Roy Sainsbury to play guitar at your function, four Birmingham City football tickets, four pantomime tickets and two tickets to Ladies’ Day at the Aegon Tennis.

We also ran a raffle during the evening and were delighted with the support we received in donated raffle prizes, many being sent from the Highbridge office and including gifts from Legoland, Wookey Hole Caves, Birmingham Hippodrome, Cadburys and Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, as well as Boden clothing, Penguin audiobooks, Harrods and Tamworth Snowdome.

It was a good fun evening while thinking about children with a visual impairment on World Sight Day. Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered to help or donated prizes and we raised just over £1200 on the night.