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description[2] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Beneficiaries</span><br><br>The following offers an indication of those individuals and organisations supported by the Gentlemen's Night Out Committee. Throughout the year, the Committee also receives and responds to other applications for funds.<br><br>We believe the Gentlemen's Night Out charity is unique. There are no administration overheads, thus every penny raised is distributed directly to an individual or an organisation with total neutrality.<br><br>Each application for funding is carefully considered with the proposal and the intended beneficiary being visited by members of the Appeals' Committee in order to ensure that an allocation is made with the appropriate sensitivity.";
description[0] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Acorns Children's Hospice</span><br><br>Caring for over 400 life limited children and families - offering respite and terminal care as well as social support. This year the GNO is providing financial support to enable remote control equipment to be attached to a child's wheelchair to allow them independent access within the hospice building in Worcester.";
description[1] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Action for Kids</span><br><br>Each year, 6,000 children are born with a locomotive disability. Action for Kids provides services for disabled young people and their families.  These include providing mobility equipment, support and a helpline for disabled children and their families. They also provide a work experience programme for disabled young people in London. Funds are being sought to buy mobility equipment for children in Birmingham and the West Midlands in order that they can take an active part in family and community life.  The GNO helps to provide funding for trikes, which are vital muscle development aids for children who have cerebral palsy or balance and co-ordination difficulties.  The GNO also provides funding for wheelchairs and standing frames.";
description[3]  = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">African Mission/Dr Ray Towey</span><br><br>Dr. Towey is a retired consultant Anaesthetist, formerly from Guy's Hospital London. He now works in Uganda as a volunteer doctor, under extremely difficult conditions. The GNO has made a donation towards an endoscope, a much needed piece of equipment.";
description[4] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Albrighton Moat</span><br><br>The Albrighton Moat Project is dedicated to providing sports, arts, education and leisure facilities for people of all ages who have disabilities or are disadvantaged.  It enables and empowers them, regardless of disabilities, to participate in and enjoy activities that are otherwise denied to them. In particular, it provides a unique fishing facility for the handicapped. It has developed a Sensory Garden and is erecting a new greenhouse to improve greater awareness of the environment.";
description[5]  = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Beaufort Gateway Club</span><br><br>The Beaufort Gateway Club based in Birmingham is part of a group of Gateway Clubs, which offers a range of entertainment and activities to mentally handicapped young adults. This is often there only form of social life as they have very few outside activities.";
description[6] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Ben and Jake Lloyd - The Barnett Family</span><br><br>Ben and Jake have been diagnosed with Sanfilippo Disease, a condition caused by the omission of an enzyme in the body. Support was given to assist with necessary house adaptations due to the physical and mobility problems associated with the disease. A surprise trip to Lapland was also provided for them. The GNO have also supported the Barnett family for Faye who has a similar disease.";
description[7] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Bereavement Counselling Service</span><br><br>This organisation provides support and counselling to bereaved children and young people.  The GNO has provided funding for training and the provision of workbooks for working with bereaved children.";
description[8] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Billy Hayes</span><br><br>Billy was introduced to the GNO by the Education & Children's Services Directorate. Billy has Sotos Syndrome, a learning disability and low muscle tone.  GNO has provided funding to enable his family to purchase necessary household equipment and clothing for him.";
description[9] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Birmingham Centre for Arts Therapies</span><br><br>BCAT works with disadvantaged and vulnerable people in the West Midlands through the use of Arts Therapies.  BCAT provides music therapy sessions for adults and children with emotional and learning difficulties.";
description[10] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Birmingham Children's Hospital - Parent Accommodation</span><br><br>This unit provides accommodation to families of sick children to allow them some degree of normality whilst their child is a patient. Our funding will help to purchase a number of domestic appliances for this unit.";
description[11] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Birmingham Day Centre</span><br><br>The Day Centre provides a meeting place for Senior Citizens from the Midlands area where meals and entertainment are provided by volunteers on a daily basis. Outings to places of interest are also organised.";
description[12] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Birmingham PHAB Camps</span><br><br>This voluntary organisation's aim is to promote the integration of disabled and able-bodied children and young people. The integration is achieved by providing a range of PHAB Camp holidays.  These camps provide a wide range of stimulating activities such as abseiling, horse riding and sailing, which disabled and able-bodied young people take part in together on equal terms.  This year they are running seven PHAB Camps holidays in Cheshire and the Lake District for disadvantaged children and young people aged eight and over. They are also running a Camp for young adults in Paris.";
description[13] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Breast Cancer Research</span><br><br>We continue to support this charity, which is funding research into the pre-cancerous states, which precede the development of invasive cancer. The research is being carried out by Mr. I. S. Paterson, who is a Consultant General and Vascular Surgeon. Research will also explore ways of preventing the transformation of the pre-cancerous states into cancer.";
description[14] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">British Friends of War Disabled Group</span><br><br>BFWD is a charitable organisation, providing assistance and support to Disabled Veterans.";
description[15] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Birmingham Community Care</span><br><br>Community Care is an organisation, which provides care and support for the elderly and disadvantaged in the community. The Committee has sponsored a hydrotherapy room in memory of one of the founders of the GNO Committee, Robert Johnson. In addition the GNO has provided a number of beds and a community bus. The GNO is assisting with a project to provide a new lounge for the residents of one of the residential homes, which the organisation manages.";
description[16] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Brainwave</span><br><br>Brainwave is a charity which helps to provide Therapy Programmes for children with special needs. GNO is helping to support rehabilitation programmes.";
description[17] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Cally Brown</span><br><br>Cally was introduced to the GNO by the Education & Children's Services Directorate. Cally has Downs Syndrome and a severe learning disability as well as suffering from hearing impairment and lives at home with her parents and sister. GNO has provided funding to enable her family to purchase necessary household equipment and clothing for her.";
description[18] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Centre of England Society for Mentally Handicapped Children & Adults</span><br><br>This organisation was formed by a group of parents with mentally handicapped children to give these children a wider spectrum of life. They organise day trips and holiday respite for handicapped children and adults as well as for parents, partners and families. We have sponsored their Christmas party and have provided funds for a holiday trip for the members.";
description[19] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Children's Adventure Farm Trust</span><br><br>This Trust provides a haven for hundreds of disabled and disadvantaged children. Groups of children from 4-14 years and their carers visit the farm for weeklong holidays.";
description[20] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Chernobyl Children's Project</span><br><br>The GNO will be funding a number of young cancer sufferers from Belarus to visit Birmingham where they will be staying with local families. Activities will be organised for the children during their stay.<br><br>The holidays are intended to provide the children a health boost by strengthening their immune systems as well as providing a psychological boost.";
description[21] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Child Haven Appeal - supporting parents and autistic children</span><br><br>A small organisation set up and run by a single mother with two autistic children of her own who found no support or facility for her own children. She is supported by her own parents and provides an integrated learning and support service for children with autism and their parents in the Midlands region. At present this centre is located within her own home, using extensions to the property. Her long-term aim is to have a purpose built building to enable her to continue and expand this invaluable work. The GNO has provided funds for a number of items to help them to continue this fantastic work.";
description[22] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Cruse Bereavement</span><br><br>Cruse Bereavement offers support to bereaved children and is creating a children's room at its premises. Bereavement and loss are difficult issues for many people, particularly children, as society still finds it hard to deal with the emotions that are associated with grief.";
description[23] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Dwarf Athletics Association UK</span><br><br>DAA UK is a disabled sports' association that aims to create opportunities for people of restricted growth to be able to participate and compete in sport. The GNO has funded the 2004 National/Open Games, which were a great success. British and World records were broken in track, field and swimming. The GNO has helped to fund the 2005 National games, which took place in Birmingham between the 30th April and 2nd May. It is also helped fund participation at the 4th World Dwarf Games in France in July 2005.";
description[24] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Ryan Eccles</span><br><br>Ryan is eleven years old and has cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus. The GNO have supported Ryan in past years by funding a stair lift to be installed in the home. At present Ryan's family is actively fundraising for a trip to Disneyland USA. The GNO has made a donation towards their 'dream' holiday.";
description[26] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Edward's Trust / Sunrise</span><br><br>The Edward's Trust is a Birmingham based charitable trust, which provides care and long term support for children and families during child illness and/or bereavement, whatever the age of the child and regardless of the cause of death. It also supports children bereaved of a parent or significant carer. The GNO helps to sponsor the Drayton Manor Park trip and has helped with funding some support rooms for bereaved children in Edward House in Birmingham.<br>Sunrise is a partnership between professionals and trained befrienders (bereaved parents) and is one of only three specialist child bereavement centres in the whole of the UK. The number of children referred is increasing. The Trust receives no help from either local government or the Health Service. It relies entirely on voluntary income.";
description[27] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Frances Lynn Bettridge Memorial Trust Fund</span><br><br>The trust fund works with children and families to support those who are experiencing difficult family circumstances for a variety of reasons.";
description[28] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">George Coller Memorial Fund</span><br><br>This fund was set up in 1999 in memory of three year old George Coller with the sole aim of improving the lives of children who suffer from asthma and also to train professionals to recognise the symptoms of an asthma attack. The charity is setting up a training foundation for all school nurses in order that they can apply for funding to take their asthma diploma.";
description[29] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Home-Start</span><br><br>A voluntary organisation in which volunteers offer regular support, friendship and practical help to young families under stress in their own homes, by helping to prevent family crisis and breakdown. It works in a myriad of ways towards the increased confidence and independence of the family and to generally promote the welfare of families under stress with at least one child under five years of age. Volunteers are trained and offer regular support, friendship and practical help, one to one, in the family's own home.";
description[30] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Joseph Foote Charity</span><br><br>The Foote family continue to excel in raising money to fund research into childhood brain tumours and cancers at the Birmingham Children's Hospital.";
description[31] = "<span class=\"navbuts2\">Kinnereth Ladies Group</span><br><br>Kinnereth Ladies Group is one of our oldest organisations and provides funds and care for children. It provides vital educational equipment for children with special needs.";
description[32] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer</span><br><br>This charity raises funds for equipment needed to fight breast cancer. Their 'wish list' includes a liposuction unit and a head light to provide additional precise lighting for the surgeon when undertaking operations. The GNO continues to support their projects.";
description[33] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Lexie Busst</span><br><br>Lexie was introduced to the GNO by the Education & Children's Services Directorate. Lexie is a young lady who has cerebral palsy, severe learning difficulties, epilepsy and asthma. The GNO has provided funding to enable her family to purchase necessary household equipment and clothing for her.";
description[34] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Lisieux Trust</span><br><br>A residential centre for adults with a variety of learning disabilities/visual and hearing impairments. Funding is required to provide a number of facilities to enhance their lives such as a hearing loop and large scale Television screen.";
description[35] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Marie Curie Cancer Care - Warren Pearl Centre, Solihull</span><br><br>The GNO continue our sponsorship of The Christmas \"Tree of Lights\" ceremony at the Marie Curie Warren Pearl Centre in memory of Robert Johnson, one of the original founders of the GNO Charity.";
description[36] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Multiple Sclerosis Society</span><br><br>The GNO is assisting this charity by making up the shortfall in its fund raising campaign to purchase a new ambulance to take MS sufferers to respite homes in York, Leamington and Porthcawl. It will also be used to take them for medical treatment, on outings, social gatherings and meeting as well as in emergencies. The ambulance will take up to ten people including five wheelchairs.";
description[37] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Norman Andrews</span><br><br>GNO has supported FSU, a charity which helps to support needy families. The GNO has provided funding for furniture for Mr. Andrews who cares for two children.";
description[38] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Ohel Sarah - Institute for the Special Child</span><br><br>This charity provides individual tailor made programs including education, therapy, employment and sheltered housing to special children. This organisation provides round the clock care for special children and their individual needs. They introduce a programme of events to enable poorly children master daily living skills as well as providing a programme of activities, such as horseback riding, swimming, pottery and horticulture activities.";
description[39] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Radio WM Toy Appeal</span><br><br>Co-ordinated through the local BBC radio station, it organises the collection and distribution of toys for needy and poorly children in the West Midlands area at Christmas.";
description[40] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Sargent Cancer Care for Children</span><br><br>Sargent has worked closely with children and young people diagnosed with cancer, providing invaluable support for the whole family as they try to cope with the pain and suffering of watching over and caring for a child with cancer. Sargent helps to give families and children the courage to face the future and rebuild their lives. Sargent provides support to families facing financial difficulties due to their child's cancer and funding to enable a family to take a holiday break at Malcolm Sergant House on the Ayrshire coast of Scotland.";
description[41] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Saxon Hill Community School</span><br><br>Saxon Hill School caters for children aged between 4 and 19 years of age with physical and learning difficulties and has a residential unit known as the Sleepover club. The School is building a play area and the GNO have provided funds to purchase a swing for wheelchair users that would enable the most severely disabled children to experience what other children take for granted.";
description[42] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Solihull Children's Special Needs Association</span><br><br>This wholly voluntary organisation caters for both physically and mentally handicapped pre-school children.";
description[43] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Special Olympics</span><br><br>The Special Olympics organisation is the GNO's oldest beneficiary. It was the initial recipient of sponsorship from the GNO. The GNO has sponsored both swimming and athletic Special Olympics teams over several years. These teams have participated in many swimming and athletic events and galas throughout the region.<br>This year, the GNO will provide funding for the National Games to be held in Glasgow from the 1st - 8th July. This is a major event and takes place every four years. All aspects of sport are catered for to include amongst others, basketball, football, weightlifting, swimming and athletics. This year the West Midlands will be taking a record number of athletes, some 400, to compete. In total some 3000 special Olympians will participate in this prestigious event.";
description[44] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Starlight Children's Foundation</span><br><br>Provides funding for seriously and terminally ill children by granting their wishes and providing hospital entertainment for over 400,000 hospitalised children each year in order to take their minds off the pain, fear and isolation of their illness and to help strengthen the family bonds during difficult times. A Starlight wish creates a memorable experience for a very sick child and gives him or her something positive to think about during this time. Parents often say that the excitement and anticipation of their child's wish was the turning point in their child's illness. Starlight always includes the parents and siblings in a wish as it gives them all happy memories, whatever the future may hold.";
description[45] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">St Basil's</span><br><br>GNO have supported this organisation for a number of years. St Basil's works with young homeless people aged between 16 and 25. Over 300 units of supported accommodation are provided in Birmingham. Work is carried out to educate young people to find and keep a home of their own.";
description[46] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">St Mary's Hospice</span><br><br>Offer continuous care and support to over 1000 terminally ill people and their families each year both within the Hospice and also the patient's homes.";
description[47] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Sue Gilroy</span><br><br>Sue won the Gold Medal in the Commonwealth Games 2002 for wheelchair table tennis. She is ranked in the top ten in the world. Funding has been given to assist with training and travel costs. Sue participated in the Paralympics, which took place in Athens in September 2004 and continues to excel in world Table Tennis. Sue is hoping to participate in the European Championships in September and the Commonwealth Games next year.";
description[48] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">The Thursday Club</span><br><br>This club provides a meeting place for senior citizens to get together weekly to enjoy lunch and a variety of programmes and guest speakers.";
description[49] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Tsunami Appeal</span><br><br>A number of the Committee of the GNO were caught up in Phuket in Thailand on 26th December 2004. The GNO were able to provide assistance on the spot. They provided assistance and funding for the creation of a playground in Bhang Thao beach, which opened in March 2005. They were also able to complete other case studies in Phuket as well as providing much needed direct assistance in the locality.";
description[50] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Variety Club, Midlands</span><br><br>The GNO sponsors the purchase of wheelchairs for disabled and needy children in the Midlands' area.";
description[51] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">Visiting Service</span><br><br>Demands on the services of these volunteers are growing with the increase of the elderly population and the unfortunate accompanying loneliness that is a product of the present way of life. As well as visiting people in their own homes and local residential homes, parties and coach outings are organised on a regular basis.";
description[52] = "<span class =\"navbuts2\">When You Wish upon A Star</span><br><br>When You Wish upon A Star is a small charity whose primary aim is to grant the wishes of children with a life threatening or terminal illness. It endeavours to provide unique experiences, such as travelling to Lapland to meet the real Father Christmas. To these brave and courageous children, being able to look forward to a wonderful treat is sometimes the inspiration needed to keep the children and their families going, whilst suffering gruelling treatments and long hospital stays.<br><br>The GNO has helped to sponsor a trip by plane for a group of children to visit Santa Claus in Lapland as well as fulfil a number of wishes for children to go to the theatre, attend concerts, swim with dolphins and visit Disneyworld.";

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