Casino Royale

On Sat 29^th November at Edinburgh's Sheraton Grand Hotel the Muir Maxwell Trust (MMT) will host 250 celebrity guests and supporters at an authentic 007 event to raise funds for the Trust's new mission which requires £10M.  Among the items for auction are the very Prada dress and Gina shoes worn by Quantum of Solace beauty Olga Kurylenko, donated by Quantum of Solace producer Barbara Broccoli.

Additional items for auction include; a limited edition Omega watch as worn by Daniel Craig, a further dress designed by Jenny Packham (designer of the Casino Royale dress), Alberta Feretti's Autumn/Winter 08 finishing gown, the chance to train with triple gold Olympic medal winner Chris Hoy and a stunning £20,000 diamond donated by Edinburgh's expert jeweller Michael Laing of Laing The Jeweller.

There will also be a silent auction of 20 Autumn 08 designer handbags from the likes of Escada, Jimmy Choo, Lanvin, Christian Louboutin, Chanel, Mulberry, and Dolce & Gabbana.  Each of the bags (some of them retailing at over £5000) is filled with luxury beauty items worth thousands of pounds.

Throughout the evening guests will play 007-themed casino tables for over 30 donated prizes ranging from exclusive luxury breaks to the green motoring revolution, the Toyota Prius - one of the most talked about cars of the year.

The evening will be compered by Trust supporters Christopher (King of the Jungle) Biggins and newsreader Angela Rippon and the Grand Auction will be conducted by Martin Bayfield, former England Rugby ‘giant'.  Entertainment for the evening includes; headlining new artist Aret as well as favourites Jacqui Dankworth and Todd Gordon. The menu will be designed and prepared by Michelin Star chef Martin Wishart and his team.  Bond elements will be introduced to the theme throughout the night as the Trust updates supporters of its new ‘mission'.

In support of approximately 5000 children in Scotland with epilepsy, 1250 of whom have difficult epilepsy and 600 of whom are severe cases, the Muir Maxwell Trust is launching the UK's first paediatric epilepsy Assessment Service and ultimately plans to build a Paediatric Epilepsy and Respite Care Centre for Scotland comprising a school, residence and medical centre of excellence.

The Assessment Service will identify the health, education and welfare needs of children with epilepsy and their families, in order that those needs can be properly addressed.  At the same time, it is hoped the service will provide evidence of the need to the Scottish Government to secure the support of the NHS and local authorities for the long term funding of these services.  Commenting on the new ‘mission', the Trust's Founder Ann Maxwell says:

"Difficult epilepsy in children is a complex condition that transcends health, education and welfare needs.  Our paediatric neurologists do their very best but there is little or no back up from social services or educational psychology.  No one has taken the time to properly assess the problem and identify the real and desperate needs of those children and their families.  Our Assessment Service, which will be launched in Scotland imminently and our plan to build a Paediatric Epilepsy and Respite Care Centre is our most exciting project since the Trust began.  The impact of severe childhood epilepsy has a profound and devastating effect that can be unmanageable.  Understanding and meeting these needs is essential if the difference we are making is to be for the long term.  This service is vital and the Paediatric Epilepsy and Respite Care Centre will be the icing on the cake."

In time, MMT hopes to extend the assessment service to the rest of the UK and consider the possibility of additional care centres. In the meantime, MMT remains committed to providing practical support to children with epilepsy and their families throughout the UK.   

The Trust is about to issue its 1000^th epilepsy bed alarm; a life-saving device unavailable from the NHS and otherwise unaffordable for many families.  The provision of these alarms is just one of the ways in which the Trust provides vital and practical support.

Ann Maxwell says, "What is significant about the Trust amongst epilepsy charities is that it specifically addresses complex paediatric epilepsy. The onset of epilepsy in early childhood or infancy is most devastating and long term damage can be considerable. The dependency on family, including siblings, can be life-long.  That's not easy for any family to deal with.  But I believe, because of our own personal experience of raising our son Muir, the Muir Maxwell Trust is unique in its delivery of real and practical support for these families which is truly life-changing." 

Press Contact:

Karen McKendrick
karen.mckendrick@muirmaxwelltrust.com 273 5255/6 

0131Visit www.muirmaxwelltrust.comThe Muir Maxwell Trust
First Floor, Suite 12, Stuart House
Eskmills, Musselburgh
East Lothian
EH21 7PB
Scottish Charity No:  SCO35531