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CHILDCARE charity Oasis, which helps Cobham families, has been boosted by more than £30,000 raised at a ball held at Sandown Park.
Guests were treated to a dinner and dancing accompanied by a live band as well as being given the chance to snap up some rare items in an auction.
Under the hammer was an England rugby shirt signed by team captain Martin Johnson who lifted the World Cup last month after the stunning, last-minute victory over host nation Australia.
The shirt alone generated £750 for the charity, which was founded in 1996 to work with vulnerable children and their families throughout the borough. More Rugby World Cup merchandise was snapped up at the ball held on November 29th.
A rugby ball signed by the commentary team that covered the matches was auctioned off for £400.
Both the ball and the shirt were brought to the event by the charity's chairman, Craig Redbond.
Organiser Dorothy Mitchell explained: "The chairman of Oasis has a lot of contacts in a lot of different fields and he bought the shirt at a previous auction.
"It was quite clever because he bought it before the tournament started and obviously we went on to win it and that just increased its value." / It wasn't just sports galore at the ball with a piece of jewellery from Gordon Marks in Cobham auctioned off along with a weekend break in Dublin staying in the city's five star Hilton Hotel.
Cllr Mitchell said work was already underway for the next ball, the charity's single largest fundraising event, with the search on for sponsors.
"The ball is very popular, with this year requests for about three extra tables having to be turned down because we didn't have room for them," she said.
Oasis's key objectives are to improve a child's overall development, recognise their emotional, physical and mental needs as well as for the parents and carers to feel sup-ported in their role.
Since it started Oasis, head-ed by Caroline Edwards, has developed a family centre for long term preventative and supportive service to children, their families and carers.
An emergency crisis intervention service has also been expanded with the charity working directly with families and individuals under contract from social services.
Anyone interested in sponsoring the ball next year, which will be held on November 27, again at Sandown, should contact the charity either by writing to Oasis Childcare Centre, PO 3ox 228, Cobham KT11 1WB, or by calling 01932 887947
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