Café’s charity night helps overcome theft

Back in January, three full charity boxes were stolen from the Lighthouse Café & Bar in Warwick Street, Worthing.

Disgusted by what had happened, Becky Lynch and Alan May, the cafe’s owners, decided to host charity evenings to try to recoup money for Wolfram Syndrome UK, Oxfam and St Barnabas House Hospice.

The first of these nights raised £1,830.92 for Wolfram Syndrome UK, a charity founded by Becky’s sister-in-law, Tracy Lynch, following her daughter’s diagnosis with the condition.

Becky said: “It was just amazing. We were just really pleased with the amount. It was more than we expected really.”

Wolfram Syndrome is also known as DIDMOAD (Diabetes Insipidus, Diabetes Mellitus, Optic Atrophy and Deafness). It is a rare genetic disorder, which causes the four conditions that make up its name, as well as various other possible disorders.

Becky was not the only one with a close connection to one of the charities. Alan’s mum attended St Barnabas.

Becky said: “It’s horrible isn’t it. Especially when it’s a charity close to your heart.”

On the night there was a casino, a raffle and auction and performances from local musicians.

Everyone came down and just wanted to have a good time and help out the charity. It was like a party atmosphere.

It is hoped the next fundraising night will be held in April or May but an official date has not been decided. For more information about Wolfram Syndrome, visit www.wolframsyndrome.co.uk