Connect Yorkshire member Martin House Children’s Hospice has raised over £280,000 at its annual Glitter Ball, with charity ambassador Sir Gareth Southgate among those in attendance.
Hundreds of supporters came together at Rudding Park Hotel in Harrogate on Friday 16 October for one of Martin House’s biggest fundraising events of the year.
Hosted by broadcasters Christine Talbot and Duncan Wood, the evening featured entertainment, fundraising and live and online auctions, before guests took to the dancefloor.
Sir Gareth, a long-term ambassador for Martin House, attended the event and also donated one of the standout auction prizes – a private 90-minute coaching session for a junior football team of up to 20 players.
Among the other lots was 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.
The money raised will help Martin House continue providing specialist palliative care and support to children and young people with life-shortening conditions, and their families, across West, North and East Yorkshire.
To put that total into perspective, £250,000 could help pay to run Martin House for an entire week, or keep its hydrotherapy pool running for a year, providing hundreds of sessions for children and young people.
Each year, Martin House supports more than 550 children and young people at its hospice in Boston Spa, in hospitals and in families’ own homes. Providing its services costs around £13 million a year, with the majority funded through voluntary donations and fundraising.
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.”
The Glitter Ball was headline sponsored by HARIBO UK, which has supported Martin House for 18 years. The company also donated a brilliant auction prize – the chance for someone to win their height in HARIBO sweets.
Phil Murphy, Chief Marketing Officer at HARIBO UK, said: “The Martin House Glitter Ball is a celebration with real purpose, bringing people together to raise awareness and vital funds to allow Martin House to continue to provide the care and services to children and young people with life-shortening conditions and their families. HARIBO is proud to support this event that makes such a meaningful difference in Yorkshire, a place we have called our home for over 50 years.”
“Creating special moments for those who need it most is something that’s really close to our hearts at HARIBO, and it is what Martin House is bringing to life – every day. That is why we would like to thank all supporters, kind donors and little or big helpers that have supported this Yorkshire charity tonight as well as in the past year.”
For further information about Martin House Children’s Hospice and how to support it, visit: https://www.martinhouse.org.uk/
