NEWSPAPER:  

BIRMINGHAM POST
 

PAGE.: Page 8

DATE:

Monday, 2nd October 2006

REPORTER: 

Staff Reporter

TITLE: 

Lord Mayor guests at fundraiser

Birmingham’s Lord Mayor Mike Sharpe was the guest of honour at a fundraiser at Bowlplex in Birmingham in aid of the charity Lupus West Midlands, which fights to raise awareness of the relatively rare disease that attacks the immune system.

The Ten Pin Bowling centre based at Broadway Plaza hosted this year’s proceedings in conjunction with the local architecture firm Seymour Harris.

The evening included a champagne reception, a keenly contested bowling competition and a raffle, with prizes donated by Broadway Plaza and Maplins.

£734 was raised, the most ever in a single night at Bowlplex.

Lupus is an incurable illness where the body’s defence mechanism attacks itself through an excess of antibodies in the blood stream, causing inflammation and damage of the joints, muscles and organs.

Lupus West Midlands exists to help sufferers and their families, while also funding vital research into the disease and providing patient services.

Yvonne Norton, chair of Lupus West Midlands, was delighted to receive the donation: “The contribution of Bowlplex and Seymour Harris to our charity has been remarkable and we are grateful for their ongoing help.

We were also pleased to see the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress attend the event.”

NEWSPAPER:  

EXPRESS & STAR
DUDLEY EDITION
 

PAGE.: Page 12

DATE:

Friday, 25th August 2006

REPORTER: 

Wayne Beese

TITLE: 

Doctor ready for health test
Charity cash injection

A consultant at Dudley’s Russells Hall Hospital will be swapping her white coat for a running vest next week when she takes to the streets to raise cash for charity

Dr Niki Erb runs the weekly clinic for Lupus sufferers and their families in ward A1 of Russells Hall Hospital.

Lupus is a disease that can affect the skin, joints and organs.

And the consultant Rheumatologist is leading by example by taking part in the Hydro Active Women’s Challenge through Birmingham city centre on September 3.

She will be raising cash during the five kilometre run for the West Midlands Lupus Group which runs a monthly drop-in clinic at Russells Hall Hospital.

Dr Erb said: “It is a cause that is obviously close to my heart and when I heard about the event I thought I would put my name down and have a go.” Anyone who would like to sponsor Dr Erb can do so by going along to ward A1 of the hospital or by calling Yvonne on 01902 498236.

The group is also looking for people to take part in next year’s London Marathon.