Leading Business Figures Gear up to Impress at Comedy Event

29th August 2013

Ten top personalities from well-known Sheffield City Region organisations are swapping their suits and uniforms for the stage, as they prepare to perform stand-up comedy routines at a unique fundraising event.

The event, called Funny Business, is being organised by Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity in association with the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), and the participants will soon begin training with top Sheffield comic, Alfie Moore. The training will culminate with the comedy hopefuls performing live on stage at Sheffield City Hall on Thursday 7 November. Alfie is an original and distinctive comedian with witty anecdotes about his time as a serving police sergeant. As well as writing and performing his own one-man show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, he has also supported Sarah Millican, Russell Kane and Milton Jones on their national comedy tours. Chief Superintendent Rachel Barber and Chief Inspector Caroline Rollitt from South Yorkshire Police, who both work in the operational support services, are swapping their police uniforms to daringly attempt the stand-up challenge as a double act in front of more than 450 people. Also taking up the comedy challenge are Professor Graham Honeyman (Chief Executive, Sheffield Forgemasters International), David Grey MBE (Managing Director OSL Group Holdings Ltd, Sheffield), Arif Munir (Leasing Manager at Lombard Nat West, Sheffield), Steve Brailey (Managing Director at Sheffield International Venues Ltd), Jacqui Copley (Managing Director of Elite Swim/Apparel Group, Sheffield), Jill White (Partner at Andy Hanselman Consultancy, Sheffield), Steve Coulson (Sales Director at Martek Marine, Rotherham) and Jon Stewart (Managing Director Siemens, Sheffield). Funds raised will contribute to the Cancer Charity's 'Do Your Bit' campaign, which is raising funds for a new, state-of-the-art Cancer Research and Treatment Suite at Weston Park Hospital. This new facility will give more patients access to a wider range of cutting-edge cancer treatments, as well as enabling significant development of the hospital's ground-breaking programme of clinical trials. Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity needs to raise £1.5 million this year in order to fund pioneering cancer research and to help improve the treatments and care for people living with cancer. Weston Park Hospital provides care for cancer patients from across the region, which means that patients from Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley, Doncaster, Worksop, Chesterfield, and beyond benefit from donations made to the charity. Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity Acting Deputy Director, Tina Harrison, will be providing support and guidance throughout the process, and based on last year's show, is confident that the participants will once again fill the hall with laughter. She said: -It's fantastic to create a fun and challenging event that brings well-known Sheffield representatives together. We are grateful for the help and support of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry that makes the event possible. -It's just brilliant to see incredibly busy people who are at the very top of their game make time to get involved in this unique fundraising event. They are all used to high pressure roles, but Funny Business will see them completely outside of their comfort zones so it should be an interesting and enjoyable night for all! Richard Wright, executive director of SCCI, said: -I'm extremely pleased that we have been able to support this event for another year. It's a fantastic way to raise money for such a worthy charity. We hope to see as many people there as possible to really make it a night to remember! After the participants have each taken to the City Hall stage and given their stand-up routine, a panel of VIP judges will deliver its verdict. Tickets priced £15 each are on general release and can be purchased from the City Hall Box Office by calling 0114 2 789 789.or visiting www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk. For those who can't make the show, the participants can be sponsored individually. For more information on Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity or the Do Your Bit campaign, visit www.do-your-bit.org.uk or call the charity office on 0114 226 5370.