An event inspired by BBC One’s The Traitors is coming to the Student Union at Teesside University to raise money for South Cleveland Heart Fund.
Saboteur Night, on the 19th of June, will feature cloaked figures wandering around and scaring people, while someone dressed as Claudia Winkleman hosts the night. In keeping with the TV show, participants will be banished, murdered and challenged as part of the game.
Attendees will sit at a table of ten and complete games to win shields for their team, all while the Saboteurs try to prevent them.
There will also be a two-course meal included in the night.
The event will raise money for South Cleveland Heart Fund that was set up in 1995 by a retired cardiothoracic surgeon – Dr Adrian Davies – and is entirely volunteer run.
Sheila Hierons, the 57-year-old organiser of the event who also works at the University, said: “Nobody takes a penny, so every penny raised goes back into the Cardiothoracic Ward at James Cook University Hospital. So, we’re proud of the fact it is just volunteer run.”
Over a quarter of UK deaths are caused by cardiovascular diseases and more than a million people have heart failure, according to the British Heart Foundation.
South Cleveland Heart Fund have raised over £3.5 million for the James Cook Cardiothoracic Centre, which is now acknowledged as one of the best in the country.
Some of the big spends that the charity has helped with include a £1 million Cardiac MRI Scanner upgrade and a £750,000 Cardiovascular Academic Research Unit.
Hierons got involved with the charity a year ago following the passing of her mother. She said: “She had a heart attack, had a heart bypass, and I’d never heard of the charity even though my mother went through that ward. It was only at a fundraising event last year that I became aware of them.
“I’m trying to raise awareness of the charity and the good work they do. They’ve already raised lots of money, but people aren’t aware of them. So that is my main goal.”
Hierons said she had been to a similar event at Walworth Castle near Darlington in preparation for the big night. “It was absolutely fantastic,” she said. “Even though I was on my own, I was sat on a table of 10. It was amazing, and I thought ‘actually, yes, I can put that together in a different venue at a cheaper cost as well.”
She went on to say that she wanted to bring costs down as much as possible due to being conscious about the cost of living.
“We’re trying to keep costs down for people and trying to have a full night of entertainment,” she added.
“I think as well because of COVID, people don’t go out as much now. People are drinking at home, having friends around at home, and I just think people are missing that social aspect as well.”
Saboteur Night will take place in the Student Union at 7pm on the 19th of June.
Tickets are running at £35 a person and can be booked by emailing Sheila.h025@gmail.com .
