Published at 10:27, Saturday, 06 February 2010

AN event promoting the benefits of the latest internet phenomenon is set to take place next week.

By NICK TURNER

Users of the popular social networking website, Twitter, are encouraged to head to The Mill pub in Ulverston at 5pm on Tuesday (feb 9) for a social get-together with a difference.

New York, London and San Francisco have all hosted numerous Tweet-ups, but with the ever-growing popularity of Twitter, the craze has expanded to towns and cities all over the world.

Now the first event of its kind is coming to Ulverston.

A Tweet-up is a social gathering for users of Twitter, giving them the chance to meet their online buddies in the flesh.

Businesses are using Twitter more and more, and this is a great chance for businessmen and women to meet each other, swap business cards and network.

The Tweet-up is organised by Kay Hebbourn, an internet marketer and entrepreneurial coach who runs the Go Ulverston website.

Ms Hebbourn hopes to attract as large a following as possible, as she is passionate about the Ulverston community and keen to show people the appeal of using social networking web sites.

Ms Hebbourn said: “I’m amazed by the level of interest there has been already. I thought I knew all of the local businesses in Ulverston, but more and more keep getting in touch to say they want to come.”

Ulverston student Catherine Courtman will be attending the Tweet-up as she hopes to raise funds for CancerCare, a local charity dedicated to the support of people with cancer.

After recovering from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, 18-year-old Miss Courtman has been set a fund-raising task by CancerCare.

They gave her £25, which in three months has to be turned into as much money as possible, through donations and fund-raising. All proceeds will go to CancerCare.

Miss Courtman, her hard-working fund-raising team, and CancerCare will be at the Tweet-up not just for fund-raising, but to help raise awareness of cancer.

There will also be music and nibbles, and a chance to win a free bottle of wine.

Depending on the success and popularity of the Tweet-up, Ms Hebbourn hopes to organise a Twestival later in the year, as a way of celebrating all things local, not just for one evening, but for a whole weekend.

She said: “It would be great if the Twestival could coincide with Stan Laurel’s birthday in June.

“That would help bring tourists to Ulverston, and Twitterers from all over the UK would be interested.”

All are welcome to Tuesday’s event, even those who are not yet involved on Twitter. RSVP via www.twtvite.com and search for ‘Ulverston’.

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk