Thousands raised at charity lunch

A sporting lunch raised more than £35,000 for a local children's charity.

The Best of British event was held at the Grand Hotel in Brighton in support of Rockinghorse, the official fundraising arm of the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital.

The annual sporting lunch welcomed almost 500 corporate guests from across Sussex and played host to two of Britain's sporting stars: Paul Merson, the former England football international, and Gareth Chilcott, the former England rugby international.

An auction helped to raise £35,100 for the charity's Sabrina's Wish campaign and will be given towards the purchase of six critical care ventilators for the high-dependency unit at the hospital.

These vital pieces of equipment will offer assistance to young patients with breathing difficulties by moving oxygen-enriched air in and out of a child's lungs, supported by an advanced monitoring system.

Ryan Heal, chief executive of Rockinghorse, said: 'Earlier this year, we helped launch the Sabrina's Wish campaign to raise as much money as we can to buy the best ventilators on the market to give doctors and nurses on the front line of paediatric care in Brighton, the best tools for the job.

'This is what Rockinghorse Children's Charity is all about and we continue to work towards having the best children's hospital in the country.'

For further information about the charity and the work they do to support sick children in Sussex, visit: www.rockinghorse.org.uk.