Liverpool boy to receive new wheels thanks to Mecca Bingo

SPORTS mad Marcus, 10, will soon be able to get to football matches - and his wheelchair hockey games - with greater ease, thanks to Mecca Bingo Knotty Ash.

Last year, as part of the national 'Mecca Wheel Difference' campaign - that raised over £280,000 in total - Mecca Bingo Knotty Ash raised over £2,770 through its fundraising activities. As a result, charity partner Whizz-Kidz, can now buy Marcus, who has muscular dystrophy, a brand new powered wheelchair.

Marcus’s mum said:- “The new wheelchair will be unique to him, offering Marcus the support he needs and allow him to continue doing the things he loves so much.”

As well as being able to adjust his seating position - essential to his health, Marcus will be able to rise up to reach shop counters and also lower himself down to the ground – essential when reaching for his beloved Playstation controller!

Brian Hennigan, General Manager of Mecca Bingo Knotty Ash said:- "I really want to say a huge thanks to the Mecca team and club members who really got into the fundraising spirit and were so generous last year! We are over the moon that Marcus will now have greater freedom to get around thanks to Mecca Bingo.  We are fundraising throughout 2009 to help more young people in the region, so please pop into the club and get involved."

Ruth Owen, Chief Executive of Whizz-Kidz, added;- "We are absolutely thrilled with the enthusiasm and inventiveness of all Mecca team and club members in 2008, in raising over a quarter of a million pounds to support young wheelchair-users' independence. 

Through Mecca Bingo's funding of powered and manual wheelchairs and training, more children now have the opportunities previously denied them. Please help us raise even more money to make real differences to young lives."

Mecca Bingo Knotty Ash is now collecting old mobile phones to recycle to raise money for Whizz-Kidz.

Anyone with a handset they do not need anymore can drop them off at the collection point inside the bingo hall. 

MANOR GARDEN MUSIC FESTIVAL

AFTER last year's success, Manor Garden Music Festival is back!   This years event will be held on Saturday, 18 July from 12 noon to 11:30pm. The money raised will go to Marie Curie Cancer Care and the Samantha Dixon Brain Tumour Trust; both charities very close to the heart of the Dickinson family.

The Festival is held at Manor Farm, Shore Road, Hesketh Bank, PR4 6XQ and is owned by the Dickinson family. The festival is set in two acres of woodland gardens. In June 2008 horticulturist Keith Dickinson passed away after being diagnosed with a brain tumour. As Keith loved music, the family thought it would be a fitting tribute to him to hold a music festival in his memory.

The Festival has 2 stages – an acoustic stage and a main stage, with up to 20 bands performing throughout the event. Bands performing include Resuss, Tim Lee, Jackpot Goldenboys, Gina Harrison, Sarah Creenie, Alistair Said, Loveless, Puzzle Puzzle, Voo, Jump in the Woods and Jelly's Last Jam, to name but a few! Many new artists will be performing, all from around the north-west area. For the full line up go to Myspace and Facebook.

Music for all tastes and ages, it is an event for all the family. Styles include Indi, Funk, Jazz, Blues, Folk and Rock.  The event will be compared yet again by the incomparable Wynnie La Freak.  Children's entertainment includes: bouncy castle, face painting, crazy cow, games etc. 

Food for all taste will be on sale – from burgers to food from Mauritius. A bar is provided on site, so please bring only non- alcoholic drinks to comply with our licensing rules.  Stalls including craft, alternative therapies, plants, tombola and work from local artists will be on display. There are still places available should anyone wish to have a stall.

Tickets are £5.00 per adult in advance; £7.50 on the gate. £2.50 for children. Ticket numbers are limited, so to avoid disappointment, buy early!

Tickets and enquiries:- 01772 812530 or 07932 586287 or 07984 183766.

The Dickinson family would sincerely like to thank everyone who has given their time and skills so willingly to organising this community event.