Donations of over Dhs350,000 from Oil Baron's Ball 2008 presented to UAE charity, Friends Of Cancer Patients

The Oil Baron's Ball, organised by Reflex Publishing, was held in November last year and the money raised came from an auction held during the evening as well as generous pledges and donations. SPD, the company of this year's elected Oil Baron, donated a Dhs60,000 brand new car to 11-year-old Mustafa Jabar, who suffers from leukemia, so he and his family will be able to make the long journey from Sharjah to Al Ain for treatment quicker and easier.

The company of former oil baron John Allison, Unique Wellube, also added to this generous donation by pledging to pay for Mustafa's petrol for a whole year.

ADIPEC organisers, DMG world media, also presented Zahara Bilal, a young girl who is desperately seeking a proper education but unable to afford it, with a new laptop to aid her studies and give her the best educational opportunity possible.

Further substantial donations also came through from several local companies, including Oilfield Material Management, COR International, Unique Wellube, Vision Marketing and Management FZCO, Dorothy Lynn Waldman, SIAN Dubai and INTL Consulting DMCC.

Dr Sawsan at FOCP, said:

"This is a very generous donation from all involved with the Oil Baron's Ball and we want to extend a huge thank you to everyone. We are also extremely grateful to Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of Foreign Trade, for the personal appeal she made to all attendees during the event, The money will allow us to help so many sufferers and their families and provide us with great support to make their lives that little bit more comfortable."

Eileen Michael, group publishing director at Reflex Publishing, added: "We are thrilled to be able to have facilitated such a fantastic fundraising event and raised such a great sum of money to donate to this worthwhile cause. The contributions people have made, financially and emotionally, have been overwhelming and we are honoured to be able to present this cheque along with the car and the laptop."

The money raised will be put to good use in helping educate families and individuals on the risks of cancer and the ways in which some changes to modern, every day living, can help to substantially reduce these risks. The organisation also supports sufferers and those close to them by providing necessary care services and financial aid as well as promoting important research into the disease.