A community activist has organised a special Cup Match raffle to raise money for the Deaf in Bermuda.

The Bermuda Islands Association of the Deaf (BIAD) Cup Match Fund Raising Raffle draw will be held on August 4 at 8 pm at the Somers Building on Front Street in Hamilton.

"I joined the organisation last September," said Charles Spanswick, community activist. "I helped them with their first tag day. I raised quite a bit of money for them. I spent the whole day at the Bank of Bermuda and the Market Place."

The organisation was so happy with Mr. Spanswick's work that they asked him to join the group, even though he isn't deaf.

Mr. Spanswick has helped form a number of other charities on the island including The Eliza Doolittle Society to help the homeless.

"I felt they needed someone to do the speaking for them," he said.

BIAD recently held a fundraising dinner at the Bermuda Cathedral Hall.

"We have decided to do another, but we probably won't do that until October," said Mr. Spanswick.

"I was just sitting one day at home when I thought, 'it is Cup Match, does anyone do a raffle at that time?' I decided to have a meeting with all of them and they agreed to it. There are some wonderful prizes."

The raffle has a number of sponsors including Cellular One, C-Travel, WOW, Heel Sew Quik, Kirk's Jewellery, M&M International, Fairmont Hamilton Princess, Cambridge Beaches, Henry VIII Restaurant, A.S. Cooper & Sons Ltd and Bulls Head Car Wash.

Tickets can be purchased at C-Travel, Heel Sew Quik, Peoples Pharmacy, Robinsons Drug Store in St. George, and Twice Told Tales bookstore on Parliament Street.

The raffle tickets are $10 each. The money will go towards the rent of their new office space in the Somers Building on Front Street.

"We now have a physical plant and we should be moving in soon," said Mr. Spanswick. "It will be on Front Street. It will be our headquarters. We are looking forward to moving in because we never had that. That is vital. Most of the money will go towards our rent. The place includes an office and a board room. We are also now working to bring in a full time person from overseas."

Mr. Spanswick thanked Minister Dale Butler because his portfolio gave BIAD $65,000 for their first year.

"Once we get settled into our office we will be doing some more fundraising," said Mr. Spanswick.

Other promoters of the event include Jennifer Fahnbulleh and Brant Wilson.

The slogan of BIAD is 'Ears are not important, it's what is between them that counts'.

For more information contact Mr. Spanswick at 516-2547.