It was bigger, it was better and it was more glamorous than ever.. it was the return of the Bone Cancer Ball!
Almost 700 guests joined us on Saturday night for an unforgettable evening at the Royal Armouries New Dock Hall in Leeds - with the fundraising total standing at an incredible £140,000 and counting!
The night of spectacular entertainment began with a performance by the Leeds Rock Choir as guests made their way to their seats, followed by a mouth-watering three-course dinner.
A live grand auction saw attendees bid their way to victory for some incredible prizes - including a luxury 10-night stay in Mexico and a Tiger Moth flight experience at the Sherburn Aeroclub in Elmet.
For guest who preferred to win silently, a silent auction hosted by Impulse Decisions saw attendees try their luck on eighty fabulous items including a Cristiano Ronaldo signed shirt, dining for ten at the luxurious Madhu's of Mayfair and a five-star, three-night Monaco Grand Prix holiday!
Evening entertainment for the sparkling event was by none other than the sensational voice of M People, Heather Small, who put on a fantastic headline performance. Heather was followed by Motown, pop and soul singers Manhattan Function Band from Leeds, who kept the party going until the early hours.
Also in attendance throughout the night was a caricaturist, glitter make-up artist and professional photographer to capture our guests looking utterly fab-BALL-ous!
Flick Smith, from the Bone Cancer Ball Committee, said:
On behalf of the entire committee, I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who joined us at this year's Bone Cancer Ball. It was amazing to see so many of you in good health and ready to party after what's been a challenging few years, all in aid of an incredible cause. We also extend our thanks to those who have made this incredible evening possible – from our sponsors and volunteers to performers and the Bone Cancer Research staff. Together, you've helped us get a step closer to finding a cure for primary bone cancer.
Laura Riach, Head of Fundraising and Communications at the Bone Cancer Research Trust, said:
I am blown away by the generosity that has been shown in support of our wonderful community. To have so many people come together in support of bone cancer patients and their families is truly remarkable, and every penny raised will go such a long way to ensure that our vital work can continue. I'd also like to say a huge thank you to our fantastic team of staff and volunteers who continue to make the ball a sparkling success year-on-year.
A special thank you to the Dawson family for sharing Al's story with us, and for their longstanding involvement with the Bone Cancer Ball.
Will, Sarah, Flick and Patrick Dawson held the first Bone Cancer Ball in 2017 to mark the 10-year anniversary of Al Dawson's death. Al sadly passed away from osteosarcoma on 7th November 2007, and the Dawsons kindly shared family footage of this inspirational young man to remind us why our vital work must continue.
Would you like to be involved with the planning of our signature fundraising event and help make a difference for those affected by primary bone cancer? We're on the lookout for new ball committee members! Please email lauren.clarke@bcrt.org.uk for further details.