Masquerade ball raises more than £5,000 for Pharmacist Support

A masquerade ball in aid of Pharmacist Support, organised by English Pharmacy Board member Mahendra Patel, has raised a total of £5,131 for the charity.

The ball, held in Leeds on 28 October 2017, was attended by almost 200 pharmacists from around the UK, including Bruce Warner, deputy chief pharmaceutical officer for NHS England. Ash Soni, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and Robbie Turner, RPS director for England, were also in attendance.

As well as raising money for, and awareness of, Pharmacist Support, Patel said the ball was a “vehicle to bring together pharmacists from all around the country, across the sectors, and regardless of level of experience.” The ball was part of Patel’s’ wider #GivAPound charitable initiative, which supports six charities, including Pharmacist Support.

Patel now plans to make the ball an annual event in Leeds. “Pharmacists need to come out and show their faces”, he said. “That’s the message of the masquerade theme.”