Trainee doctors turn Doctor Dolittle

Medical students turned Doctor Dolittle as they entertained a four-legged star guest at the annual St George’s University charity ball.

Perry the llama was the main attraction at the St George’s Rag ball on Saturday night, held at London Zoo. He was happy to pose for pictures with students, including ball organiser Charlie Walsh, while handler Jamie Pearce was on hand to keep eight-year-old Perry, which is short for Peridot, on a tight leash. Music was provided by band The Dirty Birds.

The ball was the grand finale to a week of charity events for St George’s Rag Week, which raised £60,000 for well-deserving charities including Cancer Research UK, Leonard Cheshire, Barnardo’s, MIND, The Gambian Children’s Trust, Operation Frameworks, Whizz Kidz, Show Racism the Red Card and Winston’s Wish.

Events for last week’s Rag included a Fashion Show, Disco, Paintballing and Wimbledon Pram Race as well as Man O Man — where students vied for the hotly contested honour of being named St George’s Man. The theme for 2007 was Bond, and audiences were shaken not stirred by elimination rounds including who could make the best martini, with Alex Gill, a fourth year medical student, eventually being crowned the winner. The Traffic Light Disco was also a great success. This was the speed dating event where singles wear green, those on the fence opt for yellow and red means out of bounds.

Highlights were the Rag auction last Thursday - the highest bid of the night, £585, was for a signed Pele shirt - and the quiz last Friday, this year hosted by former Miss Cardiff and presenter of channel 5’s Quiz Call, Liz Fuller, a supporter of Cancer Research, and ITV Play’s Mark Huggins.

Rag officer Charlie Walsh said: “Liz and Mark really got involved with the spirit of things and went down a treat with all the students. That night alone raised more than £350.”

Richard Booth, Rag officer, added: “A great time was had by both students and celebrities at St. George’s Students Union Rag quiz, held in the Student Union bar on Friday night. Mark accepted the rugby boys’ rowdy banter like a seasoned pro while Liz didn’t seem to want to leave - resulting in her taxi waiting outside for a good hour or so! Everyone had an awesome night and it was another successful event for St. George’s RAG 2007!”

It’s not over yet though — St George’s students have more fundraising events planned for later in the year, including a Stars in Their Eyes-style evening.

If you would like to make a donation to support all the charities mentioned, please send a cheque payable to SGUL to Charlie Walsh SGSU RAG, St George’s University of London, Cranmer Terrace, Tooting, London, SW17 ORE or please email her at surag@sgul.ac.uk.

Ends

Notes to Editors

PICTURE CAPTIONS:

Quiz night pictures — from left, Charlie Walsh, Mark Huggins, Liz Fuller and Richard Booth

Llama pictures — Charlie Walsh and Perry the Llama (x2), Perry and handler Jamie Pearce

For any further information or to arrange interviews, contact Tamsin Starr, communications manager for St George’s, University of London, on 0208 725 1139;07786 982028 or email tstarr@sgul.ac.uk.

St George’s, University of London is the only independently governed medical school in England and provides training to a wide range of healthcare students on one site. As well as providing courses in medicine and biomedical sciences, the Medical School also offers courses in midwifery, nursing, physiotherapy, radiography and social work in conjunction with Kingston University. The school is extremely active in research and has a high reputation in areas such as infection as well as diseases of the heart and circulation. Other areas of expertise include stroke rehabilitation, air pollution and addictions.