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Bollywood Dinner and DanceBollywood Dinner and Dance raises money for charity

mhs homes recently teamed up with The Medway Punjabi Cultural Group to organise a Bollywood dinner and dance to raise money for the Medway Towns Gurudwara Sabha (MTGS) and our chosen charity for 2009 ‘Help for Heroes’

Established forty years ago in Cossack Street, Rochester, MTGS was set up to fulfil the ethnic needs to the Medway Sikh Community. It is run by four priests and 24 elected volunteers from the Medway Sikh Community. The overall demand on the temple outgrew its resources, so in 2007 a new building was acquired near Rochester Airport at a cost of £1.7 million. It is now under conversion at a further cost of £1.5 million. So far, the local community has donated £1million and a further £0.5 million is required to complete the project.

At the dinner dance during his opening speech Parminder Upple, Assistant President of the Medway Towns Gurudwara Sabha said, " I feel very privileged and humbled to be sharing the evening with a very worthy cause ‘Help For Heroes’ These are the young service men, women and civilians who have paid for us to enjoy our freedom with their lives and limbs. Let’s not forget then or their families –ever."

The Bollywood night which was held at the Corn Exchange, Rochester, included a three course traditional Indian meal of spicy kebabs, samosas and spring rolls, followed by a choice of vegetarian or meat main course served with basmati rice, (Saag Channa) spinach and chick pea and Naan breads. The desert (Rangeen Phul) a fruit salad with fresh mango also included Indian Sweetmeats.

The evenings entertainment included live music from a traditional Indian music trio called ‘Shaanti House’. A dramatic display of Dancing from Paz Grewal Productions who performed Bollywood, Bhangra and Hip Hop Dancing. Guests then danced the night away to music from The Raven Seduction Roadshow.

250 ticket sales and a raffle of 25 prizes generously donated by business contacts and associates of mhs homes and the Medway Towns Gurudwara raised a total of £5500 which will be divided equally between the new Sikh Temple and Help For Heroes.

Steve Craddock Area Co-ordinator for Help for Heroes said, "It’s tremendous that a company like mhs homes who does so much for the community has joined forces with the Medway Punjabi Cultural Group  to raise such a magnificent amount of money for charity. As well as having a good time it’s also great that together they have raised awareness of ‘Help for Heroes’ among people in the Medway area."

For more photos of the Bollywood Dinner and Dance, please click on the mhs homes facebook page.