Second charity ball in memory of Dartford postman Christopher Gunapala

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The memory of a beloved former postman is living on through a charity ball.

Christopher Gunapala lived in Elm Road, Dartford, for 15 years and for 26 years he worked for the Royal Mail at the sorting offices in the town and in Bromley.

He died on October 17, 2015, just a year after taking an early retirement so that he could travel to Kenya to help build schools and medical centres.

However, his health suddenly declined after he developed problems with his liver and he passed away after contracting pneumonia, prompting his family to organise a fundraising evening in his honour.

The celebration of his life at Broome Park Golf and Country Club in Barham, near Canterbury, last year was such a success that another is being planned for the same venue on Saturday, November 4.

His sister Linda Curtis, 61, said: “Hopefully it’s going to be a good night.

“We raised £4,000 last year and I am hoping to exceed or do the same as that. As a family we have been members there for 15 years and they have been kind enough to donate their marquee.

“Christopher was the life and soul of the party and put everyone in front of himself and I want to keep his memory alive.”

There will be a buffet and plenty of live entertainment, including from AJ’s Academy of Dance and Drama and West End star Brandon Lee Sears.

Attendees will also enjoy welcome drinks, a three-course meal with wine, an auction and a raffle.

Money raised will go to humanitarian aid organisation Care Highway International, which was the charity Mr Gunapala was planning to go to Kenya with.

It gets under way at 6.30pm and tickets are £35.

To book, contact Linda Curtis on 07711 316183 or email events@carehighway.org