A WINTER ball hosted by Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice Business Group has raised over £52,000 for the charity.
The sixth annual ball was held at Coombe Abbey and saw live music from Tru Groove and plenty of dancing.
Former Mr England and X-Factor contestant Jordan Williams was also in attendance, and he treated guests to a live performance, while other guests included Masterchef star Gregg Wallace, who took part in a question and answer session.
Fundraising activities included a live auction, silent auction, heads and tails, ring-in-a-box and a raffle.
The business group runs events including annual golf days and has raised £400,000 for the hospice.
Zoe’s Place provides respite, palliative and end-of-life care for babies and children aged up to five.
Parents Tom and Lois spoke about their two-year-old daughter Elsa at the event, who has been helped by the hospice for over a year.
Elsa suffered her first seizure at four and a half months old and went on to suffer 50 a day after being diagnosed with epilepsy.
At nine months old, she was diagnosed with an extremely rare mutation, and her parents were told she would be severely physically and mentally disabled and was unlikely to live past the age of 18.
She was also diagnosed with global developmental delay and is unable to hold her body or head up and relies on a feeding tube, and during her visits to Zoe’s Place, she takes part in music, animal and rebound therapies.
Mum Lois said: “Zoe’s Place is a home away from home and we are forever grateful for their help.
“It is a real lifeline to so many and a truly remarkable place. We can’t thank Zoe’s Place and their supporters enough for all they do for our precious Elsa.”
Business Group chairman Peter Jarvis added: “Babies and children like Elsa are the exact reason our Business Group exists and we were delighted with the success of our sixth annual ball.
“To have raised this amount of money in such difficult times is an incredible result and is a real testament to our many generous supporters on the night.”
Visit https://www.zoes-place.org.uk/coventry/default.aspx for more information on Zoe’s Place.
