Dance raises cash in Matthew’s memory
jpco-26-9-12 Matthew Russo Foundation Barn Dance (Pic by Jon Rigby)
FOUR charities have benefited to the tune of £4,000 thanks to the fundraising efforts of a group set up in memory of an autistic boy.
The Matthew Russo Foundation held its annual Barn Dance at St Wilfrid’s School, Southgate, on Saturday (September 22) and organisers hope the evening will have added at least £1,000 to the £12,000 raised by the Foundation since the child’s death.
Matthew died in September 2010, two weeks after choking on his food at Manor Green Primary School. He was seven.
His parents, Dominic and Bridgette, of Tilgate, launched the Foundation in his memory to raise money for charities which support bereaved families and children with special needs.
The Barn Dance – which is always held as close to Matthew’s birthday as possible – saw 220 people get together to celebrate the lad’s life and to recognise the achievements of the charity.
Cheques were given to the Springboard Project to fund a trip for children to see Disney on Ice; Unique, which supports children with chromosome disorders; the Crawley Autism Support Group; and the Ariel Drama Academy’s Othello group, which offers dancing and acting lessons to children with special needs.
The money will allow the drama academy to sponsor four pupils.
Dominic said: “We’re overwhelmed by the support we’ve had. Of the people who came on Saturday, 70 per cent were new faces, which is what we wanted. We can’t believe how well known the Foundation has become.
“The night was about celebrating Matthew and seeing what we had been doing for the past year.”
To find out more about the Foundation, log on to http://www.thematthewrusso foundation.org.uk/
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Wednesday 19 June 2013
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