Fundraising evening nets £3,200 for firefighters families (From Daily Echo)

Fundraising evening nets £3,200 for firefighters families

8:12am Wednesday 4th August 2010 in Southampton Firefighter Deaths

THEY came together from all emergency services to raise thousands for the families of their fallen colleagues.

PC Gary Morgan handed over a cheque for more than £3,200 to firefighters at St Mary’s Station in Southampton after organising an event staged at a city nightspot.

The cash will go to the families of Alan Bannon and James Shears after the two Redwatch members were killed in the Shirley towerblock tragedy earlier this year.

Having stood guard at the flats PC Morgan wanted to help the families and quickly organised a fundraising evening for police officers, firemen and ambulance staff at the Oceana night club in Southampton.

With the support of local businesses, the police officer of 23 years managed to auction off signed football shirts from Wayne Bridge as well as signed Saints and Pompey shirts to raise the £3,278 total.

PC Morgan, 48, an area car driver based out of Portswood, said: “It was fantastic.

“I didn’t think I would make it to a total of more than £3,000 but it’s great to know that the families of the two men will benefit from the money we have raised as a police force.

“I’d also like to thank all the local businesses that helped in any number of ways providing everything from framing to the venue for free.”