CULTURE • SOCIALS
ABSOLUTELY
ATTENDS THE DREAM FACTORY’S LADIES LUNCH
B
ack at the tail end of November, local charity The Dream Factory held an amazing ladies lunch afternoon. There was plenty of fun on offer for the 140 guests who attended, with a host of entertainers joining the charity’s patrons. Special guests at the event in Lokkum restaurant in Woodford included Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, Michael Watson MBE, Colin McMillan BEM, Christine Ohuruogu MBE, and Harry Collett, an actor who has appeared in House of Dragons. Entertainment came from singer Kim Taylforth, saxophonist Paula Borrell, Samsara the Belly Dancer, Drag Queen Scarlet Diamonte, and Jon & Dave from the amazing Souledout band. Everyone came to entertain at no charge, and all prizes for the raffle were donated, as were the auction prizes. The event raised approximately £13,000, which will help the charity fulfil more dreams for children and young people. This came on the back of the remarkable story of four-year-old Quinn Gosnell from Harlow, who has recently been diagnosed with Wilms’ Tumor, which is a type of kidney cancer in not one but both of his kidneys. At the beginning of November, his dad Mike was overwhelmed with the support and comfort of friends and family. Mike wanted something good to come out of all this support and he decided to start fundraising for The Dream Factory. So far, they have raised over £14,500. The Dream Factory grants dreams to children and young adults between the age of 3 to 25 years, who suffer from lifethreatening, life-limiting conditions or have severe disabilities. It was created by Avril Mills BEM, who set up the charity in 2008, in memory of her son Oliver Mills, who died of Leukaemia at the age of nine. yourdreamfactory.org
32
A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s
SOCIALS.indd 32
21/12/2022 14:42