the 2010 'PROPS' Awards Lunch Raises over £425,000 for Variety Club's Easy Riders Wheelchair Programme
Written by James Gadsby-Peet 19th May 2010
Tuesday, 18th May saw the Property Industry converge on the London Hilton Park Lane for the 19th Annual Variety Club Property Awards Lunch. Hundreds of thousands of pounds were raised for the Easy Riders Wheelchairs Programme thanks to the generosity of those in attendance, those that sponsored awards, Aviva the event sponsor and the support of The Estates Gazette.
Event Co-Chairman Neil Sinclair introduces the 19th Annual Property Awards Lunch
The ceremony was presided over by Omid Djalili and the awards themselves were presented by Miss World herself. With accolades going for a range of categories including the Lifetime Achievement Award, Deal of the Year and Young Property Person of the Year, everyone who was anyone in the industry was there.
Variety Club Easy Riders Ambassador Matt King spoke movingly about his own experiences of the programme and the achievements that it had allowed him to accomplish. At 17 years old, just 20 seconds into his first professional Rugby match, Matt was left paralysed from the neck down. The Variety Club Easy Riders Wheelchair Programme provided Matt with a specialist electric wheelchair which has allowed him to go on to do incredible things.
Matt recently graduated from Hertfordshire University, where he achieved a first class honours degree in Law, is about to start at leading law firm Stewarts Law, was the first quadriplegic to complete the New York marathon and since his accident, has never let his disability get in the way of doing exactly what he wants to do.
The Variety Club came in and helped fund my wheelchair that I'm using now. The major impact it has had is just enabling me to try and live a normal life and just do normal things like walk my dogs, go to the park and I've just finished my law degree...If The Variety Club hadn't stepped in I don't think I would have been able to achieve any of these goals.
Matt King
Once Matt had spoken about his own experiences, he reminded everyone that whilst he had been lucky, there were hundreds of thousands of children who still couldn't achieve their dreams, and that everybody in the room could do something to help. Hundres of thousands of pounds were raised and hundreds of specialist Easy Riders Wheelchairs were bought to give freedom, independence and hope to children across the UK.
Whilst Matt's appeal put everybody's own struggles in stark perspective there was still the matter of the awards to deal with. Without further ado, Omid and Miss World took to the stage with PROPS Co-Chairmen Neil Sinclair and Ronnie Nathan to hand out the prized accolades. The winners were...
Most Promising Newcomer sponsored by Davis Langdon Alison Carnwath, Chairman of Land Securities
Banker of the Year sponsored by Buchler Barnett Spencer Dennis Watson, Managing Director, Property and Project Finance of Barclays Corporate
The Most Significant Contribution to London Award sponsored by Elliotts Shah The Supreme Court, Parliament Square, London
The International Award sponsored by Zurich RREEF Spain, AREA Property Partners and Europa Capital
The Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by Aviva Sol Kerzner, Chairman and CEO of Kerzner International
Deal of the Year sponsored by LSI Utility Brokers Drivers Jonas Deloitte for their groundbreaking merger
The Outstanding Development Award sponsored by Generator Group The Corps of Royal Engineers for the Barker Crossing, Workington
Entrepreneur of the Year sponsored by Investec Specialist Private Bank Stephen Vernon, CEO of Green Property Ltd
Young Property person of the year sponsored by Lockton Real Estate and Construction Adam Buchler of BBS Capital
Award-winning comedian and PROPS Host Omid Djalili added to the day with his wit and humour to make the afternoon most enjoyable. Omid not only added to the day with his comedic stylings, he was also touched by the work of the PROPS Committee on behalf of The Variety Club Children's Charity.
It was a pleasure to be there at your (wonderfully organized) event. I'm so glad the audience seemed to be receptive. I'm also thrilled we raised so much money. Being exposed to people like Matt King was an inspiration so how could we not buy a wheelchair? My wife was so pleased that we were in attendance at such an impressive and prestigious event.
I wish you the very best in all your endeavours.Warmest regards,
Omid
A highlight of the ceremony was the Corps of Royal Engineers accepting their award for their work on the Barker Crossing. They spoke movingly of the impact the bridge had on the local community of Workington after it was devastated by November's floods. There was also a video message sent in from two of the project's engineers who are now stationed in Afghanistan.
Many thanks to everyone involved in the event, especially those that gave hundreds of children a life-changing gift of freedom, independence and hope through the Easy Riders Wheelchair Programme.
The PROPS 2010
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