On Friday 11th June 2010, we held our first major fundraising event; a dinner dance and cabaret at Eccles Masonic Hall.

The team went to the hall in the afternoon to prepare things for the night.  Trish and Suzanne set the display stand up whilst Dave, Mike and Jonathan filled balloons with helium and attached them to weights made by Adam Robinson, a volunteer at GEARS+. Meanwhile Joe was setting up the disco and entertainer Steve Yorke arrived to lend a hand and carry out his sound check..

All the team were back at the Masonic Hall for 6.15pm ready for guests starting to arrive from 6.30pm.  a three course dinner was served at 7:00pm; a soup starter, a roast beef main and black forest gateau for dessert.  Once the plates had been cleared away Joe started the evening with a special GEARS+ jingle, we were entertained first by Carly and then Gary two talented local young people who have given support free of charge to a number of youth events.  Joe introduced us to Shellie Skillen, his "sidekick"  on Salford City Radio, and explained that she was fifteen when she made her debut on the radio twelve months ago.  Next to entertain was Dominic Collins a comedy vocal entertainer who was very very funny.  After Dominic came Steve Yorke who made sure he got everybody up dancing.  A superb night was had by all, Dominic very kindly donated any sales of his cd's on the night and all in all we raised £930.  A big thank you to everyone that helped make this event possible. See the gallery for more snaps from the evening.

In the picture: Jonathan Flynn(GEARS+), Adam Robinson (GEARS+ Volunteer), Joe Barnwell (GEARS+), Suzanne Bartlett (GEARS+), Trish Bartlett (CEO GEARS+), Andy Ayres (GEARS+ Trustee), Dave Eccleston (Operations Manager GEARS+), Josh Vela (Associate Director GEARS+) and Christina Holt (Fundraising GEARS+).