Twins Tillie and Theo were tasked with pressing the button to switch on the iconic Grand Hotel lights and get this year’s Christmas festivities truly underway.
Every year The Grand Brighton get the festive feeling going with their Christmas light switch on event. Along with their big Christmas tree and choir singers in the main foyer, they also have one special family to press the button and turn on their Christmas lights.
This year two-year old twins Theo and Tillie were chosen as the VIPs to do the honours, along with mum and dad Helen and Brett.
The twins were born prematurely and spent the first two months of their lives in the Trevor Mann Baby Unit in Brighton and continue to need specialist care at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital.
Since their twins were born, Brett and Helen have been tireless fundraisers for Rockinghorse, organising charity events in their pub, the Caxton Arms, undertaking challenge events like the Brighton 10k, Santa Dash, and a skydive, and running an amazing football match that brought together famous faces from the world of comedy, acting and sport to help raise even more money.
The family arrived at the hotel before the event to enjoy a delicious afternoon tea, kindly donated by The Grand, after which they enjoyed listening to a local children’s choir inside the hotel foyer.
We also organised a tombola inside the hotel for families to enjoy and the hotel sold some delicious hot chocolate with proceeds in aid of Rockinghorse, which combined raised over £1,500 on the night.
The crowd then gathered outside the hotel for the countdown and then the whole front of the beautiful building was lit up, following the all-important button being pressed by Theo, Tillie, Helen and Brett.
All in all, it was a fantastic evening and a great way to kick off this year’s festive celebrations!
