-Launch event with Esther Rantzen
TV star Esther Rantzen was in Leicester in January 2007 to launch the Silver Star Appeal
The Silver Start Appeal hopes to raise £50,000 to get a Mobile Assessment Centre up and running in the Leicester Area.
The money will go towards staffing and equipping a minibus so that it can start its important work of testing people for diabetes and high cholesterol in the in Leicester area. Once it is equipped the Mobile Assessment Centre will have the capacity to test thousands of people a year.
The Silver Star Appeal was launched by the Keith Vaz MP for Leicester East to mark the 20th anniversary of his election to the House of Commons.
Mr Vaz, whose own Type 2 diabetes was detected by chance, said: "Diabetes is often left undetected until it is too late. This mobile unit will be a big step on the way to raising awareness of diabetes and help to diagnose those suffering from it."
The Mobile Assessment Centre will also promote culturally sensitive health care within the south Asian and African-Caribbean groups where there is a high prevalence of diabetes.
Esther Rantzen, who opened St Gabriel's Community Centre 20 years ago said: "It is so important to keep ourselves healthy and if there is a problem we need to discover it as soon as possible. Diabetes can be extremely serious.
"It is so important to keep ourselves healthy and if there is a problem we need to discover it as soon as possible. Diabetes can be extremely serious."
- Dionne Warwick launches Silver Star Car
Dionne Warwick, the international icon who has had hits in the charts since the 1960s including “Walk on By”, visited Francis Honda in Mountsorrel in February 2007 to launch the Silver Star Lottery.
She was in the UK only for three days as a guest of the Leicester MP Keith Vaz, the Founder Patron of the Silver Star Appeal.
She was greeted by Robin Francis and fans from all over Leicestershire to the tune of "Do you know the way to San Josa." She then went on to chat with fans and sign copies of her latest CDs that were raffled off in aid of the Silver Star Appeal.
It was then down to the main business of the evening when Dionne formally launched the Silver Star Car that is the first prize in the Silver Star Lottery. The car, a Honda Jazz was donated by Francis Honda who were also hosting the event.
Having flown in only hours before, Dionne said she was really pleased to be in Leicester and to be associated with the Silver Star Appeal.
She also said that diabetes was an issue that was close to her heart and that it was so important that people get themselves tested if they feel they might be at risk.
Keith Vaz MP said "I am thrilled that Dionne was able to come to Leicester to launch the Silver Star Car that is the first prize in the Silver Star Lottery.
- Rudolf Walker launches Silver Star Song competition
One of Britain's leading soap stars is encouraging children to back the Silver Star Appeal charity campaign. Rudolph Walker, who plays Patrick in EastEnders, was in Leicester recently to show his support for the Appeal.
The enthusiastic youngsters at Rushey Mead School bombarded Mr Walker with questions such as how he got into acting and indeed how old he was! Rudolph then launched the Silver Star Song Competition.
Year 8 pupil Hamdi Hassan said: "I couldn't believe it when he walked in. I was trying to get him to tell me what happens next on EastEnders, but he wouldn't.”
The competition encourages the pupils to write and perform a song, with the winners performing at a charity gala which could win their school £500.
The Silver Star Song Competition is part of the Silver Star for Schools initiative which aims to raise the importance of a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet in Leicester's schools.
Rudolph Walker said it was great to be in Leicester and with such an enthusiastic audience. He also praised the Silver Star Song Competition and that he thought everybody should enter.
- Filbert gives a thumbs up to the Silver Star Car
The Silver Star Appeal was the special guest of Leicester City Football Club in May as the football season drew to a close.
Filbert the Fox, the Leicester City Mascot, spearheaded the fundraising appeals as he posed for photographs with the Silver Star Car which is the first prize in the Silver Star Lottery.
As the fans streamed into the Walker's Stadium to watch Leicester vs Norwich many stopped to admire Filbert and the Silver Star Car, a Honda Jazz donated by Francis Honda, and purchase their lottery tickets for just £1!
In partnership with LCFC the Silver Star Appeal was able to raise awareness of diabetes.
- Cherie Blair attends Silver Star Tea Party
Cherie Blair QC was the Guest of Honour at the Silver Star Appeal Tea Party held in London.
Despite the poor weather the event was a great success and Mrs Blair was able to meet with a wide range of successful women from all walks of life; from the worlds of business through to sport and the professions.
Mrs Blair chatted to everybody in the room and then listened to a talk on the importance of diabetes testing form a practising GP Dr Hema Patel. Mrs Blair saw for herself how simple it is to do a diabetes test when Dr Patel did a test on the manager of the restaurant at the Crowne Plaza St James.
Mrs Blair gave a short address. She said she was "delighted to be able to support the work of the Silver Star Appeal."
She said that diabetes was an issue that she felt very strongly about and that it is vital that people get tested so the disease can be treated before life threatening complications arise."
- Coronation Street star supports Silver Star Appeal
The former Coronation Street and Dinner Ladies star, Shobna Gulati, visited Bestway cash and carry in Leicester.
She came to raise awareness of the issue of diabetes, particularly in the Asian community, and to show her support for the Silver Star Appeal.
- Silver Star Gala Dinner
Keith Vaz MP had a celebratory dinner on 15th June to mark his 20th year representing Leicester East in Parliament.
The event, which was held in the magnificent surroundings of the Foreign and Commonwealth office, was used to raise money and awareness for the SilverStar Appeal.
Amongst the 350 guests Keith Vaz MP was joined by the Leader of the House of Commons Rt Hon Jack Straw MP, Shilpa Shetty, the Yemen Foreign Minister Dr Al-Qirbi, the famous footwear designer Jimmy Choo and British Bollywood star Upen Patel.
Guests were treated to a classical recital by the master tabla player Zakir Hussain and the pianist Michael Harvey.
The String of Pearls, string quartet, serenaded the guests while they enjoyed their dinner.
Awards were handed out to mark the outstanding work that some of the attendees have done. Shilpa Shetty won an award in recognition of her humanitarian work.
Dr Al-Qirbi won an award for outstanding contribution to British Yemeni relations.
Mohammedmiam Soomro also won an award for outstanding contribution to British Pakistani relations.
Mike Patel, who was appointed by Bill Clinton to serve on the advisory commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, picked up an award
on behalf of the American Congressman Charles B Rangle. Congressman Rangle who is the chairman of Ways and Means, won the award in recognition of his work for ethnic communities in U.S.A.
The dinner was a great success and the Charity Auction raised a significant amount raised to continue the work of the Silver Star Appeal.
- Silver Star lottery draw
The Silver Star Lottery was drawn in style at a Gala Dinner in aid of the Silver Star Appeal.
Hundreds of people attended the event, which was held at The Athena on Rutland Street, in Leicester including a number of well known celebrities.
Tre Azam from the Apprentice, the England and Worcestershire cricketer Vikram Solanki and the Rt Hon Geoff Hoon, Minister for Europe, were all at the Athena to show their support for the Silver Star Appeal.
Before the evening £20,000, had been raised towards the cost of a Mobile Diabetes Assessment Unit.
The much anticipated drawing of the Silver Star Lottery was the focus of the evening's celebrations and there was a last minute rush in lottery sales as the guests thronged to buy their lottery tickets.
The 3 prizes in the Silver Star Lottery were a week's holiday in Ananda, a £1000 in cash and the much coveted first prize a brand new Honda Jazz donated by Francis Honda.
By the end of the evening over £15,000 had been raised which will all go towards the cost of Leicester’s own Mobile Diabetes Assessment Unit.
Silver Star Appeal at the Asian Lifestyle Show.
The Silver Star Appeal was at the Asian Lifestyle Show displaying the new prize for the current lottery draw – a brand new Ford ka.
In between the multitude of appearance by various Bollywood stars, including Shah Rukh Khan, the Silver Star Appeal managed to raise both funds and awareness.
The draw for the raffle will be made on Sunday 28th October. For further information about where you can buy tickets for the draw just click on the tab on the top of the screen which says “raffle”.
