Bite-Back ball raises £19,500 for charities

The fifth annual Bite-Back at Cancer Ball raised £19,500 for Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation and Marie Curie Cancer Care last month.

The total sum collected at the Tourism Fiji-backed event almost equalled the previous three years combined.

For the second year the he event was hosted on the Thames, aboard the RS Hispaniola, moored opposite the London Eye.

A total of 16 auction lots went under the hammer, including a week long Basking Shark trip with Acuatours in Scotland, a Nautilus Lifeline from Milflex Hoses, technical dive instruction from Diving Matrix, plus a one week holiday to Vilamendhoo Island Resorts and Spa with Euro Divers.

Sport Diver columnist and Diving Matrix's Paul Toomer attended the event

The Acting High Commissioner of the Republic of Fiji, Mr Senitieli Wainiu, was present and picked the winning lottery ticket for a luxurious dive holiday for two to the tropical paradise of Fiji.

Coordinator for the Bite-Back at Cancer Ball, Stuart Keasley, said: “We remain enormously grateful for the support and enthusiasm from Tourism Fiji. Its involvement added a new dimension to the event and captured the imagination of thousands of divers around the world.

“Of course, huge thanks go to all our sponsors and everyone for supporting the event, either by attending, donating or bidding on auction lots or by purchasing a lottery ticket. We’re proud to have raised such significant and vital funds for the two charities and we’re delighted to have created an event that has secured its place on the calendar of divers throughout the UK.”

For more information and photos of the Bite-Back at Cancer ball 2011 please visit www.bitebackatcancer.org.

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