Volunteer organisers of the Bermuda Hospitals Board’s second Variety Show have exceeded last year’s efforts by raising $13,000 for the new acute care wing at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Twenty different acts featured at the performance on April 11, and all the funds raised were donated to the Bermuda Hospitals Charitable Trust’s (BHCT) Why it Matters campaign.

“The Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) Variety Show has undoubtedly been a success,” BHB CEO Venetta Symonds said. “It is a real pleasure to recognise the dedication our employees have to healthcare and to improving BHB’s facilities.”

Ms Symonds said it was telecommunications supervisor Beverly Marshall’s idea to produce the show and that she rallied other staff members to make it a reality for the second time.

“Raising $13,000 for the new acute care wing is a great accomplishment and I thank the entire organising committee: Carol Wade, Preston Swan, Kenneth Simmons, Beverly Marshall, Donna Stowe, Dorothy-Ann Lacey, Derek Caines, Tina Dillas and Rosemarie Phillips,” Ms Symonds said.

BHCT executive director Ralph Richardson added: “On behalf of BHCT, I would like to congratulate Ms Marshall and the entire organising committee on continuing such a fantastic and successful event.”

Event organiser Ms Marshall said that she rallied the right people to keep the event going and that it would not have been possible without the generous support of the event sponsors, BHB staff members who performed and patrons who came out to see the show.

On behalf of the Variety Committee, Preston Swan, vice president for quality and risk management, added: “We believe in our hospital and its commitment to provide the highest quality compassionate care to each person in the community.”

According to Committee statement, the event was a “huge success”, with a “jam-packed entertainment line-up of 20 different acts and strong ticket sales from the outset that saw a packed house on the night”.

The statement added that Ms Marshall’s idea looks like it is here to stay, with attendees already asking when the next show will be held.

BHB staff members and departments continue to make contributions to the new acute care wing through personal contributions and have raised more than $63,000 for the campaign to date.