Irene Collins thought she was in for a fun night out when she joined family members in the audience for a taping of new Channel 5 variety show Jane McDonald and Friends.
She was taken aback when the host stopped to talk to her - and stunned when a video was shown featuring messages of praise for her charity work (a key element of the show is to recognise those who perform good deeds). There was a further surprise when Ms McDonald presented her with a pair of tickets for a cruise to the Maldives, Sri Lanka and India - "something that I would never have done in a million years”.
Mrs Collins is co-chair of the Ladies' Jewish Committee, part of Yorkshire Cancer Research, and has helped to raise more than £1 million during a 35-year involvement.
She told the JC that although the committee is run by Jewish women, “we raise money for everyone. That’s what I like about it. We are representing Jewish people in our community by helping those that need it, Jewish or not."
