Casino Royale Raises £400,000 for MMT

At 3.30am on Sat 29^th November at Edinburgh's Sheraton Grand paediatric epilepsy charity the Muir Maxwell Trust (MMT) announced a grand total of £400,000 raised at its Casino Royale gala event.  The sum is an amazing start toward its goal of £10Million to fund its latest mission also announced at the event: to launch the UK's first Assessment Service for paediatric epilepsy in Scotland and a Paediatric Epilepsy and Respite Care Centre. 

Last night, 250 Trust supporters and celebrity guests including; Angela Rippon, Christopher Biggins and Martin Bayfield placed bids for 14 rare, unique and exclusive items including the very Prada dress and Gina shoes worn by Quantum of Solace beauty Olga Kurylenko, donated by the movie's producer Barbara Broccoli, and a limited edition Omega watch as worn by Daniel Craig.  Together these items alone raised £7,000.

Additional items auctioned included;

a stunning diamond valued at £20,000 donated by Edinburgh's expert jeweller Michael Laing of Laing The Jeweller which reached £24,000

a further dress designed by Jenny Packham (designer of the Casino Royale dress) which was sold for £4,500

the chance to train with triple gold Olympic medal winner Chris Hoy which raised £5,500

Alberta Feretti's Autumn/Winter 08 finishing gown which raised £3,000

and no less than 20 designer handbags packed full with luxury beauty products, the most desirable of which raised £7,000 at silent auction.

An additional 31 luxury prizes were won by guests in the Trust's after-dinner casino.

In support of approximately 5,000 children in Scotland with epilepsy, 1,250 of whom have difficult epilepsy and 600 of whom are severe cases, the Muir Maxwell Trust's Assessment Service will properly identify the health, education and welfare needs of these children and their families, in order that those needs can be addressed.  At the same time, it is hoped the Service will provide evidence to the Scottish Government of the need to secure the support of the NHS and local authorities for the long term funding of these services. 

Commenting on its latest 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 aims 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.   

To set the 007 scene, guests at MMT's Casino Royale event arrived to an Aston Martin strategically parked outside and entered on a red carpet.  Throughout the evening they raised over £400,000 playing casino tables for more than 30 donated prizes ranging from exclusive luxury breaks and diamond earings to the green motoring revolution, the Toyota Prius.

The event was compered by Trust supporters Christopher Biggins (King of the Jungle) and newsreader Angela Rippon OBE.  The Grand Auction was conducted by Martin Bayfield, former England Rugby ‘giant'.  Entertainment for the evening included headlining new artist Aret as well as favourites Jacqui Dankworth and Todd Gordon and a number of Bond movie lookalikes to set the scene.

The food was designed and prepared by Scotland's Michelin Star chef Martin Wishart who closed his restaurant for the evening to cater for MMT's guests.  His exquisite menu included; Jerusalem Artichoke Velouté with langoustine and a chestnut pureé, Presse of Foie Gras and Smoked Orkney Ham, Roast Loin of Dornoch Lamb with puy lentils and candied beetroot and a chocolate and Praline Galette with exotic fruit sorbet.