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With a little help from One Direction, £8,000 was raised at CLIC Sargent’s “Fifty Shades of Earl Grey: A Darker Blend” afternoon tea and indulgence party on Sunday afternoon (23 March).
Organised by Saffery Champness, this was the second event in the Earl Grey series, which is the local branch of the charity’s main fundraising event of the year.
More than 180 ladies attended Sunday’s event, which was held at the Duke of Richmond Hotel. Guests were greeted with a complimentary glass of champagne on arrival, followed by afternoon tea and a chance to get pampered in the “Area of Indulgence”.
The auction of two VIP tickets to see One Direction in concert on 6 June certainly added to the afternoon’s fundraising. They went for £420 with the full amount going to CLIC Sargent. Organisers then auctioned off life-size cardboard cut outs of the “1D boys” which made a further £215 for the charity.
Stalls in the event’s Area of Indulgence included Mill Street boutique Cockadoodle, Free Love who showcased their latest range of shoes and hangbags, Claire’s Cakes, who proved very popular last year, Dee Stonebridge of Audoire and staff from the Creasey’s Christian Dior counter.
Each stall gave a minimum 10% of all sales made on the afternoon to CLIC Sargent.
In terms of pampering Lea Powell gave reflexology taster sessions, stylists from Envy Hair Salon styled the guests’ hair, makeup artist Aimee Brehaut gave mini make overs, and therapists from the Spa at the OGH gave hand, neck and shoulder massages.
Giving their support for a second year Guernsey Sports and Remedial Massage Centre returned to give back, neck and shoulder massages.
Anyone wanting to indulge in pampering gave a minimum £5 donation to CLIC Sargent.
Following the 50 Shades theme, the Arabesque Dance Company gave their support to this year’s 50 Shade theme giving a burlesque performance.
The auction of the One Direction tickets and the luxury raffle rounded off the afternoon. Laura Clayton from Island FM was the compere for the day.
“The organising team from Safferys has worked extremely hard on this event, which is the second in the Earl Grey trilogy, and I think we managed to make it bigger, better and more indulgent than the first,” said Lisa Vizia, Director at Saffery Champness.
“Having our One Direction boys added to the afternoon’s fun, and culminated with a full on bidding wars for the card board cut outs of the boys. Once again we are extremely grateful to the local boutiques, spas and salons who took stalls in the Area of Indulgence as this is what gives our afternoon tea event the indulgent edge.”
Stephanie Cherington-Rimmell, area fundraising manager for CLIC Sargent, had also flown in to attend the event. It was her first visit to the island and she was amazed by the continued success of this local CLIC Sargent fundraiser.
“It was an honour to be part of this fabulous and successful fund raising event. I cannot thank everyone enough for organising the event and of course the generous community who came along to help raise this fantastic amount.
“At CLIC Sargent we value every penny that comes in so for one event to raise so much is a wonderful achievement and we are very grateful indeed. I just wish I’d had longer to see a little more of the island,” she said.
The £8,000 raised will go towards the running of CLIC Haven, a “Home from home” that provides accommodation for Bailiwick families while their children are undergoing treatment at Southampton General Hospital. The charity also offers support to local families for the duration of their child’s treatment when they are back in the Bailiwick.
Since Saffery Champness’s involvement with CLIC Sargent in April 2012, the firm has helped to raise more than £50,000 for the charity. The two 50 Shades events alone have raised a staggering £16,000.
