Charity lunch raises £26,000 for MS support

DJ Fatboy Slim and Brighton chairman Tony Bloom attended the event

Nearly 200 businesses and entrepreneurs have raised £26,000 for a multiple sclerosis (MS) charity thanks to a lunch with Brighton "royalty", according to organisers.

Tim Cobb, who organised the event, said the lunch at the Amex stadium for Overcoming MS included a Q&A with DJ Fatboy Slim and Brighton & Hove Albion chairman Tony Bloom.

Charity chief executive Alexandra Holden said: “The work that Overcoming MS does is incredibly unique in delivering support to help people live well with MS, from the moment they are first suspected of having a diagnosis."

At the event on Thursday people were able to bid on items including Fatboy Slim tickets, signed football shirts and dining experiences.

MS is a lifelong condition that affects the body’s central nervous system and occurs when a person's immune system attacks their nerves, instead of fighting infection.

Mr Cobb, who was diagnosed with MS in 2012, said he found "great support and encouragement" from Overcoming MS founder Linda Bloom, who is the wife of the Brighton chairman, following his diagnosis.

"Today, as president of the organisation, Linda and the Overcoming MS team continue to support and give hope to thousands of people around the world struggling with this debilitating and degenerative disease," he said.