Young Farmers Club members who took to the stage at the first Charity Gala Evening staged by Farmers Guardian helped the event raise more than £10,000 for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI).
The singing talents of young farmers from Lancashire, Shropshire, Dorset and Powys – including the winners of Farmers Guardian’s Tractor Factor competition – provided entertainment for the 350 people who attended the sell-out event.
Guild member Danusia Osiowy (pictured), co-organiser and features editor on the publication, was delighted with the support: “I said at the beginning of this project, charity fundraising is a huge part of the farming industry and the way people pulled together to make the night happen is testament to that; the event exceeded our expectations.”
Fellow Guild member and RABI press officer Nick Bond says the Gala evening was a wonderful example of the terrific support that RABI receives from both the farming press and young farmers.
“It not only raised more than £10,000 for RABI funds to help those in need in the farming community but it also helped raise awareness of the support that the RABI can provide,” he comments. “RABI is extremely gratefully to Farmers Guardian, especially Danusia, who masterminded and co-organised the event with RABI’s north-west regional officer Georgina Lamb.”
Georgina adds: “All the money raised will go towards supporting the needs of beneficiaries; this could be quarterly grants towards household bills, covering the cost of adaptations and modifications in the home for people with mobility issues, or relief support on farms in times of need. It’s going to make a huge difference to people in the farming community.”
