Snooker ace inspires stars to back worthy cause

12:59pm Thursday 21st September 2006

A SNOOKER star battling cancer missed his own Ilkley charity fundraising event after he was rushed into hospital.

Leeds-based player, Paul Hunter was due to attend the celebrity Paul Hunter's Big Night Out ball at Ilkley Lido on Saturday when he was taken ill.

Mr Hunter, battling against a rare neuroendocrine tumour, was said to be suffering from dehydration and was discharged from hospital earlier this week. But the event went ahead, attended by many snooker players, cricketers and tennis star Tim Henman, and it raised more than £30,000 for a new cancer the NET Patient Foundation.

Mr Hunter's wife Lindsay, managed to attend the event, however, and broke the news to everyone at the start of the night. One of the event organisers, Mark Dexter, said: "Paul's wife, Lindsay, came and broke the bad news at the start of the night and obviously everyone was disappointed about that and wished him well. She said she'd not had a proper night out for 18 months. It was quite emotionally, really."

Mr Dexter said 470 people came to the event, and although the funds raised are still being counted, it is hoped the event may have raised up to £36,000 for the new charity.

Celebrities who attended including snooker players John Virgo, Stephen Hendry, Mark Williams and Jimmy White, top tennis player Tim Henman and his wife, Lucy, and Australian ashes cricketer Jason Gillespie.

Messages of support from other well-known personalities including Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, were flashed across a screen on the night.

There was also a star-studded selection of auction prizes on offer. Robbie Williams donated a framed gold disc and signed photograph of his historic concert at Knebworth.

Other auction prizes included a limited edition print signed by all the winners of the world snooker championship since the tournament was first staged at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre. Also up for auction was a full set of snooker balls signed by the game's stars, plus a signed cue. Bids are already being taken for the major prizes.

Synchronised swimming team the Pudsey Pearls performed a display in the open-air pool on the night for free.