Shay provides a 'touch of Vegas in the Toon'

Dec 9 2008 by Sam Wood, The Journal

A TASTE of Vegas hit Newcastle last night thanks to a fundraising event held at St James's Park.

"Las Vegas in the Toon" featured gaming tables, roulette wheels, champagne and a five-course dinner, with more than 400 guests joining a host of celebrities.

But before all that there was a fashion show … then the high rolling started, along with an auction, a competition to win a Mercedes and a performance by soul singer Beverley Knight.

The event was in aid of the Shay Given Foundation and the Macmillan Cancer Tyneside Appeal. It was organised by the Magpies’ goalkeeper and his wife Jane.

Among celebrities at the event were Shane Lynch and Nicky Byrne, Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear and defender Steven Taylor, as well as Bad Lashes, of X Factor fame.

Before the night kicked off, Given, whose mother died of cancer when he was five, said he was looking forward to a cracking occasion.

He said: “I hope people can have a bit of fun and a bit of luck on the table to help raise funds for these worthwhile causes.

“This is obviously a cause that is very close to my heart with my mother dying when I was young. A lot of the people here tonight will have similar tales to tell, cancer has touched a lot of people.

“Macmillan nurses do a wonderful job helping people and hopefully tonight we can give something back.”