Hampshire country pub’s ladies night raises £3,800 for Cancer Research

Claire Macklin, 46, from Colden Common, organised her second event at her local pub The Rising Sun in aid of Cancer Research UK.

The pub in Hill Lane was packed out for the Ladies' Night on Saturday, March 9 which raised £3,800 from ticket sales, a raffle and donations.

Guests were treated to prosecco and a gift bag on arrival with singalongs, musical bingo and nibbles keeping people entertained throughout the night.

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Prosecco on arrival (Image: Claire Macklin)

Claire, who owns child protection company Chances Gives Choices and lives in Hunts Close, said: “My father passed away in 2014 with cancer. I was always a daddy’s girl having lost my mum at three years old. My dad was my world and watching someone you love go through such a horrific experience really hits you. Emotions can take years to get past.

“Along the way you hear other people’s stories and other regulars I have become friends with at the pub have shared with me that they have lost people to the same disease so I wanted to do something.

“The event was such good fun. The grand prize of a trip to a private chateau in Brittany was donated by a really lovely couple who interrupted the raffle to double the prize to a two-week stay.

Raffle prizes (Image: Claire Macklin)

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“I’m phenomenally pleased with how it went. From my perspective, the first couple of hours are always a blur but I then looked up and the whole pub was a sea of pink gift bags and ladies laughing and that’s why I do it. Everyone was looking amazing and it was all for a really good cause.

“We got so much support from local people and some new faces too. We have loads of plans to repeat it and let people enjoy these events again.”

Men were also welcome but the female guests were made to feel like VIPs and were encouraged to put on their best outfits.

Pub landlord Jonny Spencer matched the raffle funds, to bring the total up to £3,800 and asked Claire to make the event a biannual celebration. At the request of customers, Claire also hopes to organise a gentlemen’s evening.

Mr Spencer posted on Facebook: "Probably one of the best days and nights I've ever had owning pubs in my 15 years!

"To see the Rising Sun not only full, but full of people raising a tremendous amount of money for an amazing cause, as well as having a great time too!

"A huge thank you to Claire for bringing this all together with me and to my amazing team for working their socks off!"