A POLISH club has raised thousands of pounds for charity following a successful community event.

The event was held in the Polish Club, Church Lane, Stoke Poges, and raised £17,088 in just one day. One organiser, Beata Ciesielska, 49, of Cippenham, said: “We were raising money for the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, which is the biggest charity in Poland.”

The event on Sunday, attracted over a thousand people.

Mrs Ciesielska said: “Lots of people came, we probably had a thousand all together. We had volunteers in our Polish shops with money boxes who raised money, and in church.”

“We sold raffle tickets, and had a performance from Pop Goes the Choir, who sung beautifully for us. We also did an auction, with some famous Polish people sending in things with dedications, like politicians and authors. A famous Polish boxer, Iwona Guzowska, sent in her boxing gloves with a dedication, which we sold for £200.”

“We had face painting, and lots of stuff for kids. We had a performance from ‘Super Stars’ a little children’s dancing team, and a folklore dancing group, Mlody Las”

“We raised £14,000 last year, so this year was a big improvement.”