Japanese flags, Taekwondo demonstrations and Taiko drummers transformed Dundee’s Apex Hotel into a homage to the far east for the TICR Samurai ball.
The ball was a big success, raising a grand total of £26,000 for the heart disease centre. This impressive sum was reached in an online auction, charity casino, silent auction and a grand raffle, with two open flights to Singapore fetching an amazing £1,800.
Guest of honour Mr Hiraoko, the Japanese Consul General, joined the research team, the Principal of the University Sir Alan Langlands and TICR supporters from the local area.
Joan Concannon, Director of External Relations said, "We are delighted that the ball raised so much money for TICR. Heart disease is a very serious problem in Scotland and I believe that people’s generosity will be rewarded by the development of The Institute for Cardiovascular Research in Ninewells.
We are extremely grateful to all our sponsors, the businesses who donated prizes and particularly to all of the people who attended the ball and gave so generously. Given that we had about 250 people at the ball, that equates to an average donation on the night of nearly £100 per person."
This amount has been added to the £50,000 that was presented to TICR by the Matthew Trust - making a grand total of £76,000.
TICR chairman Robert McLaren received the cheque from the chairman of the Mathew Trust Mr Donald Grant and the money will be split between the five main researchers in TICR to pay for research staff.
from left: TICR chairman Robert McLaren, Professor Gordon Lowden, Karen Barton, Professor Hugh Tunstall-Pedoe, Dr Faisel Khan, Dr Donald Grant, Mathew Trust chairman Dr Colin Palmer and Professor Jill Belch.