Bond themed charity night raises money in memory of teenager

Bury Town Hall was transformed into Casino Royale for one night only as a James Bond-themed charity night raised £10,000 in memory of teenager Christopher Clarke.

Chris died in January, aged 17, from a brain tumour detected after he began complaining of headaches in May 2005 while on study leave for his A-level exams at Holy Cross College - reports ThisIsLancashire.

Despite undergoing urgent brain surgery and intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy over the following six months, the popular teenager died on January 16.

His mother Karen Clarke, of Bury New Road, Ramsbottom, has now made a vow to fulfil one last promise to her son by setting up the Christopher Clarke Cancer Research Fund in a bid to help improve treatment for the disease and stop more young people from suffering in the same way.

Having already raised more than £10,000 since Chris's death, that total was doubled with the For Your Eyes Only fashion and casino night at the Elizabethan Suite.

Guests were greeted at the entrance steps with the Parkour free runners, famously seen in Channel 4's Jump London leaping across the city rooftops harness-free. They carried out stunts as "paparazzi" added to the glamour by snapping ticket-holders as they made their way up the red carpet.

Inside, a 12-stone 007 ice sculpture and 400 martinis were awaiting the 400-plus guests who then spent the evening taking part in auctions and raffles while enjoying a flutter on the roulette tables and viewing a fashion show featuring clothes from a number of local businesses.

Pupils from Elton High School performed acrobalance stunts and four of Chris's friends became "silver girls" for the night with mohicans and painted silver bodies, while singer Chris Fontane performed some Frank Sinatra classics.

Cynthia McIntyre, who organised the event with Karen, Andrew Lee and Mali Griffiths, said: "It was a fantastic night and the atmosphere was amazing. The auction was a huge success and the raffle did really well too. A lot of businesses in the area got involved and it was very much a community-supported event. We would like to say a big thank-you to everyone who helped with the organising and made the night such a success."

A 40-minute film of the night will be premiered in three weeks time before going on sale to anybody who attended. For more information on the Christopher Clarke Cancer Research Fund, visit www.cccrf.co.uk.

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