Fundraising black tie event to support hundreds in Kent with muscle-wasting conditions

Andrew Robertson, a Canterbury father of one – and Managing Director of electrical wholesaler, R&B Star – is urging people to support an event at Leeds Castle, Maidstone, which is set to help raise funds for pioneering research that could help hundreds of children and adults in the Kent living with muscle-wasting conditions.

As part of the fundraising, local electrical wholesaler, R&B Star, is inviting colleagues within the electrical industry to donate raffle prizes (see contact details at the bottom of this story).

Andrew, 34, lives with limb girdle muscular dystrophy, a progressive condition which is causing his muscles to weaken and waste over time, leading to increasing disability. He was diagnosed when he was 18, after spending a year falling over when running and noticing one quadriceps was much bigger than the other.

Once, Andrew found it hard to talk about his condition and was also embarrassing at times. While at university, he would be kicked out of bars as he would fall over and not be able to get up and the bouncers just thought he’d had too much to drink. But the condition has not held him back. He met his wife, Joanne, at university and they have been together ever since. Now they have a two-year-old son, Tommy.

Andrew runs a very successful electrical businesses, R&B Star and on top of that has raised over £30,000 for Muscular Dystrophy UK to help the charity fund pioneering research into treatments for Limb Girdle muscular dystrophy.

Said Andrew: “Being involved in fundraising has made me feel like I am doing something proactive and it is a charity that I clearly have a vested interest in!”

His black tie ball at Leeds Castle will be held on Saturday the 17th September, with 170 suppliers and customers in attendance. Andrew is hoping to raise £10,000 for Muscular Dystrophy UK through profits on tickets sales a raffle and auction on the night.

“We would be grateful for any donations towards the raffle or auction that we can use to raise as much money as possible for the charity so close to my heart,” Andrew said.

Anneke Liefting, Muscular Dystrophy UK’s South East Regional Development Manager, said: “Together with family, friends and colleagues, Andrew has raised thousands of pounds for Limb Girdle muscular dystrophy research, helping us back the work of leading UK scientists searching for a treatment. Not only has he fundraised but been an ambassador for the charity by attending parliament meetings in London and providing peer support to younger newly diagnosed locals. His black tie night is set to be a fantastic evening and I hope the local community really get behind him and show their support.”

To donate a raffle prize please contact Sarah Revell at R&B Star on 07540 780549 or email sarah.revell@rbstar.co.uk or to donate to Limb Girdle research go here https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rbstar

To find out about muscle wasting conditions and to fundraise with Muscular Dystrophy UK, please visit www.musculardystrophuk.org