A NIGHT of games and glamour organised by a young woman from Bedworth raised more than £4,500 for charity. Nineteen-year-old Zoe Clements decided to put on the charity ball for Kidney Research UK after kidney failure left her life in the balance. Zoe, from Bedworth, was just 17 when she found out that her kidneys were failing. Forced to put her university plans on hold while she waited for a transplant, she finally received a kidney from her mother, Sorrelle, to save her life. She is now fundraising to help others who find themselves in the same position. Of the night itself, Zoe said: “It went really well and it was a really good night. It really helped raise awareness of the illness.” The night, hosted at the Hilton Hotel in Walsgrave, included a three-course meal, disco, quiz and games for the 160 guests. Coventry City football club, Sainsbury’s and Harry Shaw coaches were among the local businesses and organisations to help the cause with donations. Zoe is now preparing for her latest challenge which will see her head to Loughborough University in September where she will study psychology. “I’m a bit nervous,” she said. “But I’ve been waiting to go for so long that I’m just looking forward to it. “I am still hoping to fundraise at university. It’s such a serious illness and people don’t realise, so it doesn’t get very much publicity. “Over three million people in England have got kidney failure, but you don’t see the symptoms until it’s really bad.” Kidney Research UK helps to fund projects looking to improve kidney transplants and dialysis for sufferers across the country as well as helping patients gain access to better treatment. For more information go to www.kidneyresearchuk.org. | 
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