A GLITTERING French-style ball has raised more than £5,000 for the West Yorkshire Forget Me Not Trust.
The Trust, which aims to build a children’s hospice and respite centre at Brackenhall, held the event at Berties’ Banqueting Rooms in Elland on Friday.
The ball – the Trust’s third – had a French theme and guests were welcomed by dancers dressed in traditional can-can girl costumes.
The main room was decorated like the famous Moulin Rouge club, complete with a working windmill. It had been transformed for the Trust by Barnsley company Cutting Technologies.
The 160 guests were entertained by local band Morris and The Minors, who gave their services free.
There was also an auction with prizes including a signed, framed football shirt from Ronaldo and a signed, framed shirt from Huddersfield Town player Luke Beckett.
The auction raised £4,000 and a raffle collected a further £1,000. Proceeds from the ticket sales have yet to be added to the total.
Mandy Barwick, fundraising manager for the Trust, said the event was so successful that 11 tables have already been booked for next year’s ball.
She said: “The demand for tickets was huge and it was a hugely successful event – we couldn’t get people to leave at the end of the night. Everyone was very generous in donating their time and prizes.”
The ball was held to mark the eve of National Children’s Hospice Week, during which all members of the National Children’s Hospice Association step up their fundraising efforts.
West Yorkshire Forget Me Not Trust recently became the 42nd member of the Association.
