Leeds Hospitals Charity hosted its first-ever Leeds Children’s Charity Ball on 22nd April, raising £50,000 to benefit young patients at Leeds Children’s Hospital.
A glittering evening complete with a champagne reception, live entertainment, silent auction and diamond necklace raffle took place at Pavilions of Harrogate.
Barbara Rider, Chair of the Ball Committee has supported Leeds Hospitals Charity for the past 15 years, raising over £1m said: “I have been fundraising for over a decade and I still get the same feeling of excitement to support Leeds Hospitals Charity and I am grateful to see the impact raising vital funds has on the young patients and their families within the Children’s Hospital.”
Dr Amir Khan, TV’s favourite GP and patron of Leeds Hospitals Charity hosted the ball, after recently visiting Leeds Children’s Hospital to meet staff, young patients and families, said: “I was so impressed by the comprehensive services Leeds Children’s Hospital provide, not just for sick children but for their families as well.
“It was wonderful to meet staff, young patients and families and hear about the fantastic care they’ve received and how charitable donations have made a difference.”
Guests heard from mum Natalia, whose twins Leo and Luca were born 11 weeks early after contracting TAPS (Twin Anemia Polycythemia Sequence) and had to fight through prematurity, infections, anemia and multiple surgeries.
Thanks to the incredible care Luca and Leo received on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Leeds Children’s Hospital, the boys, now 13 months old are thriving and living life a happy and healthy life at home with their family.
Natalia said, “We were honoured to be invited to share Leo and Luca’s story at the Leeds Children’s Charity Ball. We’ve seen first-hand the amazing difference donations make and wanted to give something back by fundraising and sharing our boy’s story. We recognise the incredible importance of charity funding to help make the hospital experience a little brighter for parents and their children, whether it’s comfier chairs or life-saving medical equipment.”
Natalia and her cousin Emma have raised £28,000 for Leeds Hospitals Charity to purchase a life-saving incubator, giving other premature babies have the best possible chance of the survival.
The charity hope that the Leeds Children’s Charity Ball will become an annual event, raising tens of thousands each year to benefit some of our regions smallest patients and their loves ones.
Esther Wakeman, CEO of Leeds Hospitals Charity said: “Hearing powerful stories like Natalia’s will inspire people to give generously, helping us continue to provide vital funding to support projects that make a real difference to poorly children and their carers.”
