'An extraordinary achievement': Glitter ball attended by Sir Gareth Southgate raises £280k for Leeds hospice
The money raised can cover the cost of running the hospice for over a week
More than £280,000 has been raised to support children and young people with life-shortening conditions following Martin House Children’s Hospice’s annual Glitter Ball.
The amount exceeds the £250,000 that could help cover the cost of running the Leeds hospice for an entire week. That sum could alternatively keep its hydrotherapy pool operating for a year, providing hundreds of sessions for children and young people.
Hundreds of supporters attended the event at Rudding Park Hotel in Harrogate on Friday October 16. Charity ambassador Sir Gareth Southgate was among the guests.
Martin House supports more than 550 children and young people each year at its hospice in Boston Spa, in hospitals and in families’ own homes. Its specialist palliative care and support is available to families across West, North and East Yorkshire.
The charity’s services cost around £13million annually, with most of that money coming from voluntary donations and fundraising.A
Robyn Mountain Wade, Director of Income Generation at Martin House, said: “We are absolutely overwhelmed by the generosity shown at this year’s Glitter Ball.
“To raise over £280,000 in one evening is an extraordinary achievement, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who supported the event and helped make the night possible.
“We were also delighted to have Sir Gareth with us once again. His continued support means a great deal to everyone at Martin House.”
Broadcasters Christine Talbot and Duncan Wood hosted the evening, which included entertainment, fundraising and live and online auctions before guests took to the dancefloor.
Sir Gareth, a long-term Martin House ambassador, contributed a private 90-minute coaching session for a junior football team of up to 20 players as one of the auction prizes.
Other lots included a limited-edition Omega Seamaster Diver 300M watch, an Oracle Red Bull Racing factory tour, an Emmerdale experience with actor Jeff Hordley and a seven-night stay in St Ives.