AN enchanted ball proved to be a magical night for fundraising as a hospice staged its 25th special event.
St Teresa’s Hospice, which was founded over 35 years ago, held its first full scale extravaganza since 2019, at Hardwick Hall, Sedgefield.
Compèred by comedian and entertainer Steve Walls, who was accompanied by a 12ft tall stilt-walking unicorn, Carla Roberts, the event saw around 150 guests enjoy a red carpet arrival, followed by drinks reception, a three-course meal, auction, raffle and live entertainment from magician Romany Diva.
Sponsored by MODUS Subsea and by Charles Clinkard, the black tie ball raised a profit of more than £10,000 for the charity, which is fighting to recover from the impact of the pandemic and the effects of the current cost of living crisis.
Over the past quarter of a century the show-stopper has raised more than £250,000 to help fund the hospice, which provides free care for the people of Darlington, South Durham and North Yorkshire affected by life-limiting illness.
Retired chief executive of St Teresa’s Hospice Jane Bradshaw, who organised the ball with her volunteer committee, supported by the Hospice’s fundraising team, said: “After last year’s scaled down event it was so good to see it return in all its glory.
“The ball is a major fundraiser of the hospice’s calendar and I was delighted that it had so much support from our sponsors and guests. These are testing times for our community, which is making fundraising especially challenging, but our workload, if anything, is increasing. So any help we receive is most definitely appreciated.”