Magician Dynamo wowed a sell-out audience of more than 500 people at an event which raised a bumper £160,000 for the Beechwood Cancer Care charity.
Dynamo was the headline performer at the sixth annual Man@Manchester comedy lunch, which was attended by businessmen and women from all over the north west.
Also on the bill were comedians Gary Marshall and Mick Ferry, along with acoustic band The London Essentials.
The event, staged at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate, featured an auction and raffle, with prizes including a football match against the Class of 92 on the roof of Hotel Football near Manchester United, a golf trip to Gleneagles in Scotland, a box at Emirates Old Trafford for the England-Pakistan cricket test match next August, and a dinner with England cricket legend Michael Vaughan.
Portraits of United legend George Best and City boss Pep Guardiola by speed painter Dave Sharp sold for more than £30,000.
Beechwood Cancer Care is a Stockport-based charity that supports people from across the north west affected by cancer or other life-limiting illness such as motor neurone disease.
It costs £4,000 a day to run Beechwood, which provides emotional, psychological and practical support for patients and their families, friends and carers.
The charity will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year.
Man@Manchester was sponsored by Manchester-based Pareto Financial Planning and Brown Shipley. In its six years, the event has raised more than £500,000 for Beechwood.
John Stevenson, managing director of Pareto and chairman of Beechwood’s board of trustees, organised Man@Manchester in partnership with Taylor Lynn Corporation.
John said: “We had a fantastic line-up of entertainment which made for another great occasion.
“The event continues to go from strength to strength thanks to the amazing support we receive from businesspeople across the region and the dedication of volunteers who give up their time to help make it such a huge success.
“The vital funds we raised will once again support the tremendous service that Beechwood provides to individuals and families in their time of need.”
Linda Steggles, chief executive of Beechwood, said: “The generosity of the local business community, through the support given to this event and ongoing support throughout the year, is overwhelming.
“I’d like to thank all the guests who came along to support the event and also those people who gave their time freely to help plan and deliver what was a fantastic afternoon for a fantastic cause.”
The proceeds will be spent on refurbishing therapy rooms and other areas Beechwood, and on adding extra capacity to the family support team by funding a finance and welfare officer who will offer support on matters relating to the financial worries of patients and their families, and the benefits for which they may be eligible.
Beechwood is planning a host of fundraising events throughout 2020 to mark its 30th anniversary.
