W4 Businesses Take A Day Off From the Credit Crunch

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Annual St George's Day Charity Lunch in aid of Help for Heroes

Economic gloom? Sales down? Repossessions up? It’s not an easy time for businesses but some Chiswick traders are looking forward to a little light relief on April 24th when they celebrate St George’s Day with a special luncheon event in honour of England’s Patron Saint at Chiswick’s own ‘Frankie’s Bar & Grill’. Despite the economic uncertainties, the luncheon continues to support a deserving charity each year and the 2009 event will benefit the “Help for heroes” organisation.

This year’s lunch is the 7th annual event organised by Mike Moran, owner of Top Hat Cleaners on Devonshire Road, and the occasion is, as always, heavily supported by local Chiswick businesses. In addition to Top Hat, other Chiswick businesses to be well-represented include Bang &Olufsen, Berkeley Consultants, Gordon Lindsay Associates, Neighbour Net, Kallkwik, Travel & Leisure International  and Winkworths. With 120 guests in attendance prospects are good for an afternoon of fine wine and dining, some post-lunch entertainment from comedian Adger Brown and later, entertainment from swing-singer and Rat pack homage Ray Lowe. If previous lunches are anything to go by, free-flowing wine and Adger Brown’s comic touch should see everyone forgetting the financial doom and gloom for a couple of hours.

But the lunch is more than an excuse for a good day out; each year since 2003 the organisers have identified a deserving charity and this year event founder Mike Moran is proud to be supporting “Help for Heroes”, a charity providing support for our wounded servicemen. Mike says: “It shouldn’t be necessary to have a charity raising money to help people who have risked their lives for their country, and suffered for their bravery, but as long as it is, we’re happy to support it!”

As well as supporting the event through ticket sales, many of the Chiswick businesses who attend make an additional contribution to the charity donation with an optional payment for their appearance in the event programme. While this involvement is entirely voluntary, and the amount is discretionary, it’s great to see so many local companies offer this extra donation.

Anyone interested in assisting ‘Help for Heroes’ can find more details at their website, www.helpforheroes.org.uk, while more information about the St George’s Day Lunch is available at www.stgeorgesdaylunch.com or via Mike Moran at Top Hat on Devonshire Road.

To read Phil Packer's moving account of his forthcoming London Marathon attempt, please click on http://www.philpacker.com

To see other runners in this year's London Marathon running in aid of Help for Heroes, please click on http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/LM_featured.html

Help for Heroes is a registered Charity. Charity No: 1120920

April 16, 2009