WOMEN’S group Bramley WI Lite has been celebrating the proceeds of a successful fundraising event in the spring.

They were thrilled to hear that the club had raised more than £4,000 for charity at their Sapphires and Sparkles fundraiser in April at Sherfield-on-Loddon village hall.

This special ladies night was attended by 116 women and was supported by businesses from across the area.

On the evening guests were welcomed with a glass of fizz, where they were then wowed by entertainment from tribute act Forever Barlow and the MC for the evening, writer and apparent part-time entertainer Clare Macnaughton.

After a buffet supper, the night’s fundraising got under way and included a table raffle, an auction, a raffle and a game of heads and tails, all of which preceded a disco provided by DJ Peter Cook.

The proceeds from the evening totalled a whopping £4,131.83 and will be split between Bramley WI Lite and the Children’s Ward (G2) at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital.

Bramley WI Lite is part of the National Federation of WIs but is billed as a "WI with a modern twist". The group launched in 2007 and has since gone from strength to strength, and now has around 30 members, who meet once a month.

Anne Grant, president of Bramley WI Lite; said: “Sapphires and Sparkles was a fabulous success. We are extremely grateful to those who supported the event with raffle and auction prizes, and donations of precious time. We were amazed by the generosity of local businesses in support of the event; their support made the fundraising from the evening truly astounding.”

Trish Le Flufy, child health clinical services manager, said: “On behalf of the children’s card at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital a huge thank you to the members of Bramley WI Lite.

“The effort that went into fundraising for this event and making the night a success was huge. The £2,065.92 donated as a result will make a significant difference to the lives of local children and their families.”

The remaining share of the fundraising will go to Bramley WI Lite, helping to secure the running costs of the group over the next few years.

The group will be able to run bigger and better events for its members, and guarantee that it will be there to provide a way for local women to make friends and support one another in a fun environment well into the future, as it prides itself on doing since its inception nine years ago.

Generous supporters of Sapphires and Sparkles included both local and national companies such as Odiham Cake Company, Tylney Hall Hotel, Abel & Cole, Christmas Common Conserves, Markwins International Ltd, Cristina Barton Photography, The Hampshire Court Hotel and Summerdown Mint Company.

For more details about the group, visit bramleywilite.com.