WHAT a grand gesture!British Gas Engineers have helped to kick start this year's Evening Star Press Ball Fund with a £1,000 donation.The money will go to Suffolk charity, Disability Care Enterprise, which helps disabled youngsters and adults in the county.

WHAT a grand gesture!

British Gas Engineers have helped to kick start this year's Evening Star Press Ball Fund with a £1,000 donation.

The money will go to Suffolk charity, Disability Care Enterprise, which helps disabled youngsters and adults in the county.

Now in its seventh year the annual Evening Star Press Ball, which is sponsored by British Gas and The AV Unit, has raised more than £160,000 for the DCE.

With the money raised, equipment such as special chairs, computers and even deposits towards transport can all be given to people with disabilities to enhance their quality of life and also that of their family.

Anthony Chmarny , spokesman for British Gas said: "We are delighted to support this years press ball and help launch the fund raising activities for disability charities across Suffolk.

"Most of our engineers live in and around Ipswich and are pleased that the company is helping to put something back into their community."

Austen Dack, Evening Star Brand Manager, said: "British Gas already give us a great deal of financial support for the Press Ball, to gain an extra £1,000 to launch the event is an unexpected but a wonderful surprise.

"Their new appeal where their engineers will volunteer to help out on a local community project is important too .

"If you have a project which needs their help please contact us and we will put it forward for consideration," he added.

Not only are British Gas helping the Press Ball but they are going one step further this year by launching their own community project.

The British Gas Community Projects Appeal will see them supporting community projects in the area and want to hear from any local groups or charities in the area who need a helping hand from them.

In recent years more than £20,000 has been raised on the Press Ball night and this year we hope to make it our best yet.

The Starry Potter theme will hopefully magic out a few wallets and get people bidding in the auction with fantastic prizes donated by Suffolk businesses.

Tickets for the evening, which includes a meal and music and dancing cost £70 and are fast selling out.

But we want the whole community to get involved in raising money and have this year launched the Press Ball Fund.

So get fundraising and know that your money is going to help people that live in the county.

There are so many ways of raising money and we want to hear about yours.

Let us know what you are doing and we can publicise it for you so you can get maximum publicity and sponsorship.

nCall the Evening Star news desk on 01473 324790 or e-mail us at StarNews@eveningstar.co.uk.

Donations should be made out to Disability Care Enterprise and sent c/o Geraldine Thompson, Editor's Secretary, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN.

n. To get your community project considered by the British Gas team call the star newsdesk on 01473-324788.