A GALA dinner and generous sponsorship means that an appeal to raise £25,000 to support carers in South Lakeland has already reached the £10,000 mark.

More than 200 guests attended the event at the Castle Green Hotel in Kendal to celebrate the 25th anniversary of South Lakeland Carers.

The evening also saw the launch of the charity’s Anniversary Appeal to raise £25,000 to support its work with carers in South Lakeland aged from five to 98.

The event exceeded expectations with £10,000 raised to kick-start the appeal, including £1,200 sponsorship from Welbeing, a £1,000 donation from Booths, £200 from the Cumberland and - the icing on the cake - match funding from Barclays which added £2,000 to the appeal.

After dinner, Bill Nelson lead a lively auction where prizes generously donated by local businesses included a weekend in a Jaguar F Pace from Kentdale Jaguar, a week away in a VW T6 Jobl camper van from ES Hartley and tickets to Kendal Calling.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron was special guest at the dinner, which also included entertainment from The Seals.

"I’d like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who supported us on the evening - our guests, all the organisations who donated prizes and the volunteers who worked tirelessly during the evening,” said Mike Seaton, chief officer of South Lakeland Carers.

“To celebrate our 25th anniversary we want to raise £25,000 to develop our support services for carers. These will include established and vital services such as relaxation therapies, counselling and sitting service, alongside new services. This will meet a growing need for carers, to whom a regular, short break makes all the difference in the world. It gives the carer valuable time to do the things you and I would normally take for granted.”