The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) has confirmed that a record sum of £71,531 was raised for charity during the Gala Dinner that concluded its All Industry Conference in Budapest last weekend. The total was even higher than the estimate given on the night.
The money will be divided equally between Variety, the Children’s Charity, the charity of the Crystal Clear Group, and the Teenage Cancer Trust – the BMF’s charity of the year.
Conference delegates showed their generosity in many different ways throughout the evening. The highlight was a special auction where the star lot, a Fiat Abarth 595 Tourismo donated by the Crystal Clear Group, sold for £19,000.
Comedian and impressionist, Jon Culshaw, joined conference host, Gethin Jones on stage to encourage every member of the audience to get involved.
A silent auction of lots ranging from holidays to sporting memorabilia raised well over £30,000 and a bid of £3,000 won a lunch with Paddy Ashdown.