Record funds raised in BP Charity Pro-Am

Dhs 215,000 was raised during the BP Charity Pro-Am 2005 held in November at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club by Sheraton, the sixth tournament sponsored by BP to raise funds for children with special needs in Abu Dhabi.

The event proved to be a record year for fund raising with profits from the day's golf combined with proceeds from the auction, raffle and prize giving dinner held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Diana Long, from organisers The Churchill Group said, "We were delighted to have exceeded our target of Dhs 150,000. This was mainly due to the auction being boosted by Doha Golf Club's donations of Qatar Masters and British Masters team places as well as DJ Mike Greaves persuasive auctioneering tactics."

She added, "The funds will be gifted to the Future Centre and Special Care Centre which rely on donations to provide children with special needs basic amenities, education and recreational facilities in order to help them to develop into individuals who can live a normal life."

Sponsors for the event included Al Habtoor Motors, ALDAR Properties, Le Royal Meridien, Halliburton, Standard Chartered Bank, Doha Golf Club, British Airways, GMP, Fast Rent a Car, Crystal Gallery and the Crowne Plaza Hotel Abu Dhabi