Community News From Around Our Area

Zoe’s Place Business Group Ball Raises More Than £54,000 for Baby Hospice

An annual ball organised by members of the Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice business group has been hailed a success, raising funds of more than £54,000 on the night.

More than 200 guests attended the extravaganza at Coombe Abbey Hotel following a two-year absence, with last year’s event called off because of Covid.

It was the fifth annual ball organised by the Business Group and formed part of the hospice’s programme of 10^th anniversary celebrations.

As well as dancing and live music from Coventry band The Kicks, guests were treated to a range of fundraising activities including a live auction, silent auction, heads and tails, ring in a box and raffle.

Best-selling prizes on the night included dinner with Gregg Wallace, which fetched £1,600.

Nuneaton singer Jordan Williams, a former X Factor boot camp contestant and former Mr England, was the compere for the evening and made a surprise offer of a prize donation on the night. His offer of a singing experience, in which he promised to perform for the highest bidder, raised a further £1,200 for the hospice. Other prizes included a Maserati experience and an overnight stay in Coombe Abbey. Altogether the live auction raised £9,000.

A gourmet advent calendar donated by Arden Fine Foods raised £2,000 in the heads and tails fundraising game. The game proved so popular that guests took part in a second round, competing for a selection of wines and further swelling the charity’s coffers.

Parents Charlotte Quanborough and Steve Dadds, spoke of the vital support they have received for their five-year-old daughter Luna who was born with complex needs including blindness, cerebral palsy and epilepsy, and is in need of expert care, and has attended the hospice since the age of two.

With last year’s event cancelled due to Covid, the evening generated much-needed funds to help Zoë’s Place continue in its work to provide round the clock respite and palliative care for children like Luna who have life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses.

Peter Jarvis is the Chairman of the Business Group and National Patron for Zoë’s Place, which also operates hospices in Liverpool and Middlesbrough. He said, “Once again the annual ball proved to be a huge success, with generous support from everyone who attended. As we had to cancel last year’s event, the hospice is in need of every penny it can find and there are certainly people who went above and beyond on the night, loaning their time, skills and talent to top up these much-needed funds.”

He added, “We are delighted that despite having to miss one year, the annual balls organised by the Business Group have still collectively raised £300,000 for Zoë’s Place – an incredible feat for this remarkable charity. I am incredibly proud of my association with the charity on a national basis as even in the face of Covid, it continues to provide a vital lifeline to young children and their families.

“Plans are already underway for next year’s event which we hope to make even bigger and better as demand for the hospice’s services continues to grow.”

Tanita Mistry, Corporate and Major Donor Fundraiser at Zoë’s Place, added, “We are so grateful to the members of the business group and the guests for attending the ball. After a difficult year we’re over the moon with the amount raised.

“The funds raised on the evening will help us continue the important services we provide for our babies and families.”

Through Covid restrictions the hospice allows access to three children at any one time and is open four days a week. Money raised from the ball will go the hospice’s general funds, with a view to bringing in more nurses which in turn will allow the hospice to provide vital services for more children.

To find out more about the work of Zoë’s Place log on to www.zoes-place.org.uk/coventry/default.aspx