A night of glitz and glamour raises nearly £150,000 to help groundbreaking cancer research.

​The "Bat and Ball" Charity Auction organised by LAPR&D saw a bidding war for a range of prizes at it's annual event held at the Hilton Hotel at the Ageas Bowl.  Every single penny raised from the event will go towards research undertaken at Southampton University Hospital and organised by charity co-founder Mohammed Abu Hilal into the widely unknown strand of the disease.
 
Unlike many forms of cancer detection for liver and pancreatic cancer is often too late and cure rates as a result are very poor.  The disease affects approximately 200 people every year in Southampton area alone.
 
Mr. Hilal said "we are still a very young charity and we aim to raise awareness so we can battle it every way we can.  We are making big strides in stem cell research to help create a new working liver for people rather than just have them waiting on a donor list.  To see this sum of money raised is just fantastic."
 
Stem cell research started at Southampton University Hospital in May this year but the charity is still in need of support.
 
The night was organised by charity supporters Tina Hiscock, Julia Stuart, Sally Rowcastle, Carole Harwood and Mandy Bransgrove who managed to auction off tickets to an international cricket match, a signed ashes bat and tickets to the British Grand Prix as well as many others.
 
The auction raised £43,500 from bids and sponsorship from the likes of Matchams Creative and Screwfix.  Before the event Romsey based builders, the Highwood Group pledged a further £100,000 taking the grand total to nearly £150,000.
 
Fellow Charity Co-Founder, John Burke, who himself suffers from pancreatic cancer, said he was overjoyed by the amount raised.  Mr. Burke, who lives in Fair Oak said “it was nice to see so many people come out and support us.  This charity is one that I believe really needs a push to support the great work that Mo and his team are doing.”
 
More than 400 guests were in attendance at the Bat and Ball event including Sir Ian Botham and charity Patron, Saints goalkeeper and club captain, Kelvin Davis