We hosted our annual Glitter Ball on Saturday 23 March 2024, raising £53,000 towards our new Wellbeing Service at the Royal Alex.
We returned to the prestigious Grand Brighton Hotel to host our biggest fundraiser of the year and welcomed three hundred people, including sponsors, guests, volunteers, and some of the NHS staff team from the Royal Alex.
We were thrilled to celebrate a sparkling evening of fun and entertainment and, most importantly, we managed to raise £53,000 to help fund this new and innovative Wellbeing Service.
This year’s ball wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our generous sponsors. The headline sponsor for 2024 was The Agora Clinic, with co-sponsors – ILG, Galloways Accounting, UnitedUs, IT Document Solutions, Creative Pod, Ridgeview Wine Estate, The Grand Brighton, Sussex Business Times and More Radio.
The Agora Clinic has been a longstanding supporter of Rockinghorse, and this marked their second consecutive year as the headline sponsor. Dr Carole Gilling-Smith, CEO and Medical Director of The Agora Clinic, said, “As Headline Sponsors of this amazing fundraising event for the second year running, my entire team at the Agora Clinic have nothing but praise and admiration for the Rockinghorse Charity who put on an unforgettable evening at the Brighton Grand.
“The Glitter Ball brought together an incredible community of like-minded people, united in their mission to bring some fun, joy and normality to the many babies, children and young adults experiencing illness through the creation of a wellbeing hub and the many activities within it.
“The emotional and psychological benefits of this project will be enormous, and not only felt by the children affected by ill health, but also by their parents and siblings. The project, as you heard on the night, is one I am deeply passionate about. Even better is knowing that 100% of the money raised on the night is going straight to the cause!”
The incredible night was hosted by Macella Whittingdale, along with Sam Thomas, co-founder of County Business Clubs. Guests enjoyed two performances from the talented young people of The Theatre Workshop, a wonderful set by the Alison David Band and were able to dance the night away thanks to DJ Kent Reynolds.
Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and supporters, all the money raised on the night will go towards this new service which will be able offer a wide range of additional and alternative therapies that support doctors and nurses to care for children with a whole range of conditions.
These sessions will help children understand and manage their condition and support them with their recovery, helping children get better, faster.
They will mean that sick children in Sussex have the world’s best care and support when they are unwell.
Donna Holland, Chief Executive of Rockinghorse, said: “This new service is the legacy of the Ball, the incredible support of everyone in the room and all our wonderful sponsors.
“This support, along with all the generosity shown by all the local businesses and individuals who donated all the prizes for our raffle and auction, mean that every single penny of the money raised will go directly to launching our new Wellbeing Service, helping the children and families that need it most.”
Dr Oli Rahman, Consultant Paediatrician at the Royal Alex and Rockinghorse Chair said, “I was genuinely heartened to see how our local community came together to support their local charity which in turn improves the quality of care we provide for children and their families who attend The Alex and the Trevor Mann Baby Unit. We are very fortunate indeed to have such wonderful supporters!”
If you would like to support us by fundraising, taking on a challenge event, or coming to one of our events, just take a look at what we have coming up here.
Any support and donation, big or small, will make a difference to so many children and families.
Thanks to Stephen Johnson for all the fabulous photos from the event.
