Wives urged to say I do to charity event

One of the most important parts of any bride's big day, it usually just gathers dust once the champagne is drained and the confetti swept up.

Now hundreds of women are being asked to dig out their dress once more and raise money for St Columba's Hospice.

The 250 Dresses party – named after the film 27 Dresses – will see women pull out their wedding gowns to wear to a fundraising knees-up.

It is the latest event to boost the coffers at St Columba's. The hospice is currently joining the Evening News to run the Buy a Brick campaign, to raise funds for a major rebuilding project at its site in Granton. But while the appeal continues, the hospice must also raise money to meet its day-to-day costs, with events like 250 Dresses.

The party is being organised by Sarah Broadley, whose mother Mary Steele was treated at the hospice before her death in October 2006.

Mrs Broadley, 36, said: "My friends and my sisters said they'd really like to wear their wedding dress again and I thought 'Well why don't we do a fundraiser?' It seemed like a great idea."

She will be pulling out the dress from her 2002 wedding to husband Neil for the event, which will be held at the Edinburgh Masonic Club in Leith Walk on 18 June.

The night will include a silent auction and a prize draw for guests to enter their favourite "first wedding dance" song. Prizes include a framed shirt signed by Sir Chris Hoy, a Hearts top signed by the whole team, and a Hibs football, also signed by the team.

Mrs Broadley, who lives in Trinity, said she owed a huge debt of gratitude to the hospice after it helped her mother cope with the pain of terminal cancer.

Mrs Steele's illness came just as her daughter fell pregnant with son Connor, now three, who was born three weeks after his grandmother died at the Western General.

Mrs Broadley said: "She had melanoma and she went through all the treatments and was given the all-clear and was fine for seven years, but it came back and she only lasted about seven months. She spent a lot of time at the hospice, on and off.

"All the staff are absolutely tremendous. I think she could relax and know that she was getting looked after well."

Although she is keen to get as many wedding dresses to the event as possible, she said everyone would be welcome – bridesmaids' dresses, kilts and other smart outfits are also encouraged. "As long as you're not wearing jeans and trainers, no-one will be turned away," she said.

The hospice's senior fundraising manager, Mairi Rosko, said: "Just making a donation, buying a brick or doing something a bit more unique, like 250 Dresses, is incredibly special."

Tickets for the event cost 5 from [email protected].