Ladies donate bags to help save lives

Alex Murch - RBS, Michelle Hunt - Heartbeat, Sadie Sharples - RBS at the RBS ladies night for Heartbeat at Mundos Tapas in the Guild Hall

Around 50 ladies donated a hoard of stylish bags and accessories for the Royal Bank of Scotland annual fundraising event held at the Mundo Tapas restaurant in the Guild Hall.

The night raised around £795, which was match funded by RBS taking total funds raised to £1,545

Sadie Sharples, relationship manager at the Royal Bank of Scotland said: “We were thrilled with the results of our first event so decided to make it an annual occurrence and this years’ event has been another great success.

Guests enjoying the RBS ladies night in aid of Heartbeat at Mundo Tapas at the Guild Hall

“The ladies night was really well attended and people gave very generously. I’d like to thank everyone involved for their kind contributions.”

Guests were all asked to bring along unwanted bags, jewellery or accessories, to be sold at a special pop-up shop - with all the proceeds of sale going to the heart charity.

The event was set-up by bank employees, Sadie and Mandy Coupe three years ago.

Sadie added: “Three years ago when Mandy and I first had the idea of holding a ladies night in aid of a local charity we knew that we wanted to do something a little different.

Sadie Sharples, Vicky Turner, Lisa Upton, Alison Rigby, Alex Murch - RBS at the Ladies Night for Preston charity Heartbeat

“Rather than just asking people to donate money, we wanted to create a fun theme and that is when we had the idea to request that as part of the evening, everyone attending should donate a handbag that they no longer use to help raise money for the cause.

Jill Rogerson, Chief Executive at Heartbeat, added: “On behalf of Heartbeat and the fundraising team, I would like to say a huge thankyou to both Sadie, our relationship manager, and Mandy from Royal Bank of Scotland, for organising and hosting the event on our behalf; it was a very enjoyable and innovative event. Raising funds for our vital work is always a challenge but it is made easier through the generosity of some of our corporate supporters.”

Heartbeat was founded in 1978 by Keith and Rose Redman who sadly lost their teenage daughter, Gillian, to heart disease.

Keith and Rose recognised the need to develop support and enhanced rehabilitation for people affected by heart disease after the hospital discharge.

The pioneering approach to cardiac rehabilitation has provided support to thousands of people over Heartbeat’s 38 year history.