Press Release
Sent to the Leighton Buzzard Observer on Tuesday 14th February, 2006
The Wild West came to Leighton Buzzard last Saturday, as Heathwood Lower School played host to its first ever Wild West Charity Poker Tournament. Cowboys and Cowgirls came from all over the country in order to get dressed up, play poker and win money for their favourite charities.
The Tournament was organised by Leighton residents Graham Arnold and Malk Williams, assisted by the Heathwood Parents Association, and friends who travelled from as far as London and Cambridge in order to help deal and hire out Wild Western "frockage" to those with less well stocked wardrobes.
"The idea was Graham's originally" said Malk, who spent most of the evening wearing a huge 'Wyatt Earp' moustache, "we like to play poker ourselves, and we have a lot of friends who like to play poker, and who are prepared to go to great lengths in order to dress up and play games for the evening. Letting the winners select the charities that get the money was inspired though. It meant that everyone was happy to take part, knowing that the money would go to a good cause whatever happened, but also that they all really wanted to win, so that their good cause would be the one to benefit!"
Ultimately, five players won money for their charities: in the main tournament, Alison Rider-Hill of Wimbledon chose Oxfam, poker novice Laura Carter of Leighton Buzzard supported Willen Hospice, and Emma O'Connell of Croydon gave her winnings to Sutton Mencap. In a separate "Last Chance Saloon" game, for players who had been knocked out of the Big Game early, Ryan Myint of London won money for Asthma UK, and Dixon Jones of Harlington gave Oxfam their second win of the night.
Additionally, Sue Lee and Jane Winter donated the money raised from costume hire to Ethiopia Aid, and since Abbey, Graham's employers, will match the money raised on the night, the event will have raised over £1000 to be shared between the various charities.
Full details can be found on the tournament website, www.malkavius.com/poker.