Charity ball champagne is on ice

TONIGHT'S the night we're gonna make it happen!

The champagne is on ice, the canap�s are ready to be served, the guests have got their posh frocks and black tie - and the stage is set for the Ipswich and Suffolk Press Ball.

Dubbed the night of nights and held at the sumptuous Elizabeth Hotel, Copdock, hundreds of guests are due to step on to the red carpet later this evening and dig deep into their pockets.

With the Cystic Fibrosis Trust as the Press Ball's chosen charity, organisers are hoping to raise �15,000 during the course of the evening thanks to some fabulous auction and raffle prizes donated by Suffolk firms and organisations.

Evening Star editor Nigel Pickover will be welcoming guests and speaking during the evening.

He will say: “Tonight, amid the mystery and magic of this year's exciting “night of nights,” we will change the lives of some very special people.

“This is The Evening Star's 13th Press Ball in support of local charities and this year the committee has chosen to donate the proceedings to cystic fibrosis - a most deserving cause.

“The Cystic Fibrosis Trust is a charity which touches so many hearts in raising funds to support local families who have needed their help and support in their times of need.”

Pimms will be served on arrival, crooner Tom Rust will serenade guests, fine foods and wines will be served, magnificent “money can't buy” prizes will be auctioned and the Ipswich and Suffolk Press Ball's lucky guests will dance the night away to top notch entertainment in the form of Still Drifting, led by Ray Lewis from the original Drifters along with Fil Straughan.

Sponsors and Press Ball friends include EDF Energy Networks, Riley and Riley, Five Castles, Seven Assets, Ipswich Town Football Club as well as main sponsor Ipswich-based firm Call Connection.

Graeme Kalbraier, managing director of Call Connection, said: “The Ipswich and Suffolk Press Ball is always a fantastic event and I am delighted Call Connection is once again sponsoring the evening.

“Cystic Fibrosis Trust is a charity that is very close to my heart and the money we raise tonight will go towards changing the lives of so many.”

Rosie Barnes, chief executive of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust said: The Cystic Fibrosis Trust has been funding research since 1964 which has resulted in people with CF enjoying longer and better lives. However, there is still no cure.

“The Cystic Fibrosis Trust is always astounded by the generosity of the families and friends of those affected by cystic fibrosis in helping to raise the necessary funds for our work and I would like to thank The Ipswich and Suffolk Press Ball most sincerely for its support.”

See tomorrow's Evening Star for full coverage of the Ipswich and Suffolk Press Ball.

Further information can be found about Cystic Fibrosis on the website www.cftrust.org.uk. Help and advice for those affected by Cystic Fibrosis is available through the Cystic Fibrosis Helpline on 0845 8591000. To find out more about the Ipswich and Suffolk Press Ball visit our dedicated Press Ball section on our website - www.eveningstar.co.uk

Have you been helped by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust? Are you a regular guest at the Ipswich and Suffolk Press Ball? What do you think? Write to Your Letters Evening Star 30 Lower Brook Street Ipswich IP4 1AN or send an e mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

PIONEERING gene therapy could be the breakthrough in the battle against this cruel and debilitating disease.

Cystic Fibrosis Trust chief executive Rosie Barnes said: “As a result of this research, children and young adults in London and Scotland have been recruited for the largest gene therapy trial for cystic fibrosis ever conducted.

“The regulatory procedures have been completed, the product has been made and the first dose has been given to the first group of volunteers.

“By late June the results of this pilot test will be available for consideration by our scientific advisory committee.

“If the results indicate that the product is safe and has a reasonable likelihood of success we will proceed to the multi-dose clinical trial.”

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the UK's most common life-threatening inherited disease.

Cystic fibrosis affects more than 8,000 people in the UK.

More than two million people in the UK carry the faulty gene that causes cystic fibrosis - around 1 in 25 of the population.

If two carriers have a child, the baby has a 1 in 4 chance of having cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis affects the internal organs, especially the lungs and digestive system, by clogging them with thick sticky mucus. This makes it hard to breathe and digest food.

Each week, five babies are born with CF.

Each week, three young lives are lost to CF.

Around half of the CF population can expect to live over 35 years, although improvements in treatments mean a baby born today could expect to live even longer.

ORGANISERS of one of Suffolk's most glittering nights have today received a massive boost after an Ipswich firm agreed to dig deep and sponsor the event.

Seven Group Ltd of Cardinal Court in St Nicholas Street is supporting the Ipswich and Suffolk Press Ball as major corporate sponsors.

Managing director Warwick Dunnett said: “Obviously the current climate means that many businesses are cutting back and reviewing every aspect of expenditure.

“This does not help charities and organisations that are dependent on the support of local business however we cannot lose sight that this county has an excellent business network that can, when getting together on an occasion like this, a make a significant impact for many causes that would otherwise struggle during these challenging times.

“We at Seven are absolutely delighted and proud to be able to continue our support for this event.”

This year the sponsorship comes from Seven Telematics that are part of the Seven Group of companies which was formed in 1997.

Seven Telematics is renowned providers of temperature recording equipment that export to the most areas of the world, a range of instruments that are used to monitor the temperature of goods in transit covering a wide spectrum of applications from the National Blood Transfusion Service to speciality meats or Ice Cream.

You may also recognise other Seven Group Companies within the region such as Seven Refrigeration that specialise in portable cold storage and air conditioning, Seven Lincs, the transport logistics and distribution operation, Seven Asset Management, delivering a commercial vehicle contract hire solution across the UK and Seven Property specialising in residential property rental.

For more information please visit www.sevengroup.co.uk.