Chester: Charity ball raises more than £25,000 for hospice

The event was hosted by avid fundraiser Helen Watson, Partner & Head of Employment at Chester law firm Aaron & Partners on Saturday (November 16).

The lavish evening saw VIPs from Chester and Wirral, including television broadcaster Lucy Meacock and the High Sheriff of Clwyd, Karen Farrell-Thornley, among the 350 guests.

With prizes ranging from a champagne Boodles experience to a Spa & Prosecco break at Grosvenor Pulford, and the GOLDEN Raffle Prize of a trip to New York donated by Perfect Getaways, the event raised over £25,000, bringing Helen’s total personal fundraising for Claire House to over £75,000. Add that to Helen’s corporate fundraising and the amount is closer to £200,000.

Claire House CEO David Pastor publicly thanked Helen and presented her with an award to commemorate her outstanding fundraising achievements.

Helen said “I have been totally blown away by the support for The GOLD Ball in aid of Claire House Children’s Hospice.

“I will never forget the Cathedral doors opening to such a memorable and spectacular vision of lights and glitter!

“This is a charity dear to my heart and I have worked on pulling this unique ball together for over a year with the help of Judith from JayKay Events. We had fire eaters, aerial artists and a band that led the dancing around the font! The evening was made by the people who supported so I want to say a huge thank you for helping us raise over £25,000.”

Helen has worked on numerous charity events with Cheshire events company JayKay Events for over ten years and they are already planning their next big charity event.

The event was sponsored by Aaron & Partners, Clear Cut Financial Planning, Clogau, Grosvenor Insurance Brokers, RBC Brewin Dolphin, Planning, Roften Galvanizing, Wirral Chamber of Commerce, Russell Taylor Group, with the GOLD raffle prize sponsored by Perfect Getaways, room décor sponsored by Jumping Jacks Events, and goodie bags sponsored by Xeinadin.