A DRIVE to encourage more people to engage with a community hospice will see a curry and beer night come to an Ulverston landmark.

'Currynation Hall' will see the Coronation Hall play host to a night of live music, food challenges and curry by the bowl full all in aid of raising money for St Mary's Hospice.

It is hoped the event will encourage men and young people to become more aware of health risks they face, and to learn how the hospice can help.

Corporate and partnership development fundraiser for St Mary's, Bob Qazi said: "The event at the Coro working together with Furness College will raise funds for us and engage people with the message we are trying to get out. We want to get our message out to men."

Legacy fundraiser Geoff Steele added: "Engaging with men about health is important."

The hospice is concerned men are hesitant to talk about health issues, suffering in silence when there is help readily available from organisations like the hospice.

The idea to hold a curry night was seen as a fresh and fun way to attract new people to the hospice as well as raising money in the process.

Mr Qazi said: "We wondered what would appeal to a new demographic in the area. Using a curry night as a premise we thought how we could do it.

"What better place to have it than the Coronation Hall."

For several months, the hospice has been working with local businesses, schools and organisations to help deliver the curry night.

Ulverston restaurant Naaz offered up their culinary skills, local brewers donated casks of beer and Barrow's Deli.sh are donating a range of spicy chutneys.

The hospice were overwhelmed with the response they received from the town, praising just how willing people were to help.

Mr Steele said: "You go out into the community and people solve problems for you."

Mr Qazi added: "Contact with Furness College has been one of the most rewarding in this process."

As part of introducing younger people to the work the hospice does, Naaz has worked with pupils at the college to teach them cooking skills.

Because of the multi-faceted approach to the curry night, staff are positive it will be a great success in attracting more people to the hospice.

The event will take place on Friday February 3 from 5pm to 10pm at the Coronation Hall.

There will be no entry on the door, so tickets must be bought in advance.

For £10 customers will gain entry, plus a curry and a beer.

To get tickets, visit http://bit.ly/currynationhall or pop into the box office on 01229587140.

The staff at St Mary's wanted to thank their sponsors at Kimberley-Clark, Naaz, Cater Kwik, Deli.sh, and the Sun Inn for their support in putting this event together.

For a full list of sponsors see the St Mary's website at www.stmaryshospice.org.uk

Related stories:

Ulverston pupils donned their festive jumpers to raise hundreds of pounds for St Mary's

A blogger completed a marathon feat of endurance to raise money for a local hospice