Paul Golder writes for the Brentwood Gazette

We’ve been running a series of fundraisers for various charities at Phoenix FM over the past few years but we’ve just finished our most successful evening ever, held in aid of Saint Francis Hospice at Shenfield Cricket Club.

We raised a whopping £2,815 – the most we’ve ever raised in a single evening event!

The evening was part of our regular Phoenix Family series of relaxed networking events which have been increasingly successful this year, and something we are looking to extend into the new year.

I’d like to say extra big thanks to Steve McCarthy of The Mortgage Specialists and Ross Marshall of Exquisite Magazine for sponsoring, to Gary Grant from Starstruck Autographs for providing the auction items, to Claire Pritchard for the excellent catering and to Keeley Smith for the fantastic entertainment on the night.

And of course to our very own Steve Roach, who did a amazing job in organising the whole thing.

It’s great to raise money for such a good cause, but how about this for a frightening statistic – £2,815 is just over ONE TENTH of what Saint Francis Hospice have to raise every day! Listeners to Phoenix FM can find out more about the Hospice’s current events and fundraising by visiting sfh.org.uk, or by listening to their regular slots on Mike Porter’s Breakfast Show.

* It may be coming up to Christmas but there is no let up in the number of guests coming in over the next week. Christian Howe from Howe Chartered Surveyors will be talking about their recent success at the Brentwood Business Awards on Drive, and Adam Duffill, Bridge The Dark and Fielding’s Dream Correction will all be taking part in the 50 Shades Of Chay end of year Quiz Final on Thursday evening.

* Also on Thursday, Graham Stannard chats to Chris Powell about the Santa Cause 6, a charity concert organised by Band4Life, and on Sunday Emma Louise will be talking about her yoga retreat weekend on Stepping Out.