Give cancer the boot

STAR cancer charity fundraisers Iain and Debbie Dowie with Alan Shearer at a recent Bollywood dinner

THE wife of former Latics boss Iain Dowie is spearheading a new cancer charity — Boot Out Breast Cancer — and is bringing her fundraising to Oldham in a bid to boost funds.

Debbie Dowie, who had a cancer scare of her own in August, 2009, has launched a ladies lunch and fashion show that will take place at the Saddleworth Hotel on Thursday, March 10, (11am-4pm).

There will be a three-course meal (12.30pm), guest speaker and entertainment from rat pack singer Cole Page as well as the chance to pick up some bargains from selected local shops who will have high-class stalls to show off their goods.

Debbie said: “The offers of help we have had since setting up the charity have been fantastic and all the money raised is going towards funding specific projects within the North-West.”

Iain, whose family has always remained in Bolton while managerial jobs have taken him all over the country, is currently a regular member of the Sky Sports Saturday matchday programme.

And two of his co-analysts, Matthew Le Tissier and Paul Merson will be top of the bill for a sportsman’s dinner that is to be held at Manchester’s Hilton Hotel on Thursday, March 31 where the event will be fronted by Sky presenter Ed Chamberlain.

The BOBC charity, which has Alan Shearer and paralympic and world cycling champion Sarah Storey as patrons, held its first major event before Christmas. That was a Bollywood-themed dinner that attracted 370 guests to the Monastery in Manchester and raised a staggering £77,000 which will be used to purchase a one-stop nucleic acid diagnostic machine for the Nightingale Centre in Manchester.


To obtain £40-per-head tickets for the ladies lunch contact Leslie Thompson 07976 417720 or by email at lesleyt86@hotmail.co.uk  


For the £75-per-head sportsman’s dinner tickets contact Debbie Dowie at debbie@bootoutbreastcancer.org.uk