Plymouth
Business Charity Group

Today (20th June 2025), £23,549.16 was raised on our event last Friday and presented to the The Chestnt Appeal today at Derriford Hospital.

From all of us on the Committee, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support.

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What an Incredible Day at the Royal Citadel!

Last Friday (13th June 2025), we hosted our charity event at the Royal Citadel – home of 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery – in aid of the Chestnut Appeal, raising awareness and funds for men’s cancer.

The weather held out just long enough for a fantastic tour led by Regimental Sergeant Major WO1 Stefan Spink and WO2 Jimmy Carr, guiding guests through the iconic battlements and historic barracks. As the group returned to the marquee, the rain arrived right on cue – perfect timing to stay dry and continue the day’s events in style.
The catering team truly outdid themselves, presenting a stunning spread that not only looked amazing but received glowing praise for taste and quality from everyone present.

We were honoured to welcome staff and volunteers from the Chestnut Appeal, including CEO Lesley-Ann Simpson and Consultant Urologist Paul Hunter-Campbell. Their talks were engaging, informative, and laced with the warmth and humour that kept spirits high.

Three prostate cancer patients then bravely shared their journeys – at various stages of diagnosis – leaving a deep impact on all in the room. Their stories brought the message home: early detection saves lives.

A special guest, Tip Cullen, a former Royal Marine Mountain Leader, captivated the room with his story – from a boy growing up in Belfast to a long career in the Corps, and now an actor with film and television credits. His honesty and humour were unforgettable.

And then there was Chris Bentley – our compère and auctioneer for the day – who brought his trademark charisma and crowd-commanding presence. His energy and humour kept the event flowing smoothly, while his impressive auctioneering skills helped maximise our fundraising efforts. We couldn’t have asked for a better host to guide the day.

Despite the rain, Check 1-2 delivered a high-energy set packed with classic 90s and 2000s hits – the ‘man disco’ was in full swing and nothing could dampen the vibe.

Thank You – We’re so grateful to:

• The Commanding Officer and RSM of 29 Commando for their incredible hospitality
• The Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Devon for his support
• The catering team for their delicious food and hard work
• The Chestnut Unit at Derriford Hospital for sharing their vital expertise
• Tip Cullen for his moving and motivational talk
• Chris Bentley, our brilliant host and auctioneer, for his humour, energy, and masterful crowd control
• Check 1-2 for their performance in challenging weather
• Our generous sponsors: HQW Aerospace and Allison Nuclear
• PL1 Events for outstanding production and technical support
• Everyone who donated auction prizes
• Our fantastic speakers
• And the tireless committee: Paul Montgomery, Agata Kalend-Łuszczyńska, Scott Grenney, and Leslie Dy-Durden – without whom none of this would have been possible

And finally, thank you to everyone who came along – your presence made the day truly special.

Thank you for supporting the cause and being part of something truly meaningful.
We kindly ask that if you choose to use any photographs, proper credit is given to UpArt Photography and that their logo remains intact and uncropped.

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Today (11th December 2024), we were incredibly proud to reveal the total raised from our recent Trevi Ball, with a cheque presentation to the charity. Thanks to generous fund matching, an astonishing £44,000 was raised—an amount that will have a significant impact in supporting their vital work.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who attended the charity ball on November 2nd at the Crowne Plaza. On the night, we raised an impressive £24,000, and with an additional £20,000 in matching funds from the Big Give, our final total reached £44,000.

We recently visited Trevi’s Sunflower Women’s Centre, where we had the opportunity to meet with Carrie, their corporate fundraising expert, to confirm the match funding from the Big Give and the total amount raised from the ball. It was truly inspiring to see firsthand how these funds are directly helping vulnerable women.

We were honoured to be joined by our event sponsor, PL1 Events, and House Sponsor, Michael Spiers, at the unveiling of the total at the Treasury. We were also thrilled to welcome some of our most generous auction prize donors, including Emilie Susie Artist, JP from the Treasury, and David Ellam from Brittany Ferries, who were all in attendance to see the incredible impact of their contributions.

The success of this event would not have been possible without the incredible generosity of our supporters. We are sincerely grateful to everyone who contributed, whether by attending the ball, donating auction prizes, or offering their time and resources to make the evening a success. Your kindness has made a tangible difference to the lives of the women supported by Trevi, and we are excited to continue this partnership as we work together to create lasting change.

With the addition of this incredible £44,000, the Plymouth Business Charity Group has now raised a total of £107,257.61 for local charities. We are proud of what we’ve achieved together and are already planning something exciting for next year. Stay tuned for more announcements coming soon!

From Plymouth Business Charity Committee Group 2024 – (committee members) Paul Montgomery, Agata Kalend-Łuszczyńska, Lauren Rogers, Michael Mann, Scott Grenney and Leslie Dy-Durden