A magical evening was had by over 320 guests at this year’s Demelza Winter Ball, held in the glamorous setting of the Londoner Hotel, Leicester Square in the heart of the capital.
The event, held on Friday 18 November, was hosted by television and radio star, Kate Thornton, and saw the audience entertained by the only magician to win Britain’s Got Talent, Richard Jones.
The guest of honour was William, 14, who has juvenile Parkinsons’ disease. Earlier in the year, William and his sister Charlotte had filmed the first part of a magic trick at Demelza’s hospice in Sittingbourne with Richard. Gasps of disbelief were heard across the ballroom as the finale was revealed.
Guests also enjoyed a four-course dinner, bidding generously on an array of online auction prizes, and danced the night away to the Fake Tan band, raising a staggering £230,000!
Thanks to the generosity of the companies who donated these prizes, an incredible £69,000 was raised from the silent auction, from which every penny comes to Demelza.
Huge thanks to our sponsors on the night, LGT Wealth Management, as well as Kate Thornton, Richard Jones, and Matt Freestone who spoke so movingly of the care his daughter Abby and family, received from the nursing and family support teams at Demelza.