MEDICAL charity Mercia Accident Rescue Service is hoping to raise funds to aid its voluntary care for the community by hosting its first ever gala fundraiser dinner.

The event, to be held at Evesham's Wood Norton Hotel on Saturday, November 26, will include a charity auction with many top prizes donated by Worcestershire's business community.

MARS chairman Andrew Thurgood said: “An event like this is important to MARS as it is an opportunity to relax and think of the work that has been done over the years, while celebrating the enormous amount of support the community provides to the scheme. We really hope you can join us and support the charity for what promises to be an excellent evening. If we raise money on the way, then that would be fantastic."

General manager of The Wood Norton Steve Sweeny added: "The Wood Norton aims to support as many local charities as possible and as a result we are delighted to have been chosen by MARS as the venue for its first ever Gala Fundraiser Dinner. So many members of the local community are unaware of the incredible care provided by voluntary MARS medical practitioners day in and day out, and I am, therefore, in great hope that this event boasts a great turn out with an excellent amount raised for a very worthy cause.”

As a local medical emergency charity, which provides pre-hospital immediate medical care for the critically ill and injured across Herefordshire and Worcestershire, MARS has relied on donations from the general public since it was founded in 1983. All raised funds are used to train and equip MARS immediate care practitioners, who come from a range of specialities such as emergency medicine, general practice, cardiothoracic surgery and anaesthetics, and in their spare time attend to 999 emergencies through the charity in support of the NHS ambulance service.

The MARS Gala Fundraiser Dinner will kick off at 7pm with a drinks reception, followed by a three-course dinner and a charity auction. It will also include Las Vegas style entertainment together with a disco. Tickets are £50 per head and bookable in tables of ten.