Bingo and Breast Cancer Fundraising Week

Tagged as: Gala Bingo | by Hollie Sanders

Bingo has been an activity that has traditionally always supported various charitable causes. Churches and other organisations have always found that bingo fund raisers are popular and it is great to know that the game of bingo, other than just being a gaming pastime, is actually responsible for raising funds for various charitable and fund raising activities.

Bearing this in mind, the UK Bingo Association holds a fundraising week in October. annually in support of Breast Cancer. This initiative is now in its 5^th year and is known as Bingo Breakthrough!

Fund raising for Breakthrough takes place nationwide in more than 400 bingo clubs, each of whom dedicate one week in October to this worthy cause. The promotions include auctions, pink party antics and bingo games to win the prize of a pink monkey, soft toy.

Clubs such as Mecca Bingo, Gala Bingo, Carlton and Buckingham Palace all get involved in the Breakthrough week and they encourage their patrons and staff to be fully involved in the project.

Support from the bingo clubs began in 2003 and has raised a huge amount of money for Breakthrough, actually they have raised £2.5 million! The Association hopes that this year it will be able to beat the record breaking amount from 2006 of £651 000. This project received the BIG Tick award in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Celebrities have also joined in to assist Breakthrough for the second year in a row.