Duncan Bannatyne of the UK , taking a child to surgery. Operation smile Mission, Reconstructive Surgery Institute of Jalisco. Guadalajara, Mexico. June, 2013. (Operation Smile – Photo Marc Ascher)
Duncan Bannatyne is hosting a glamorous fundraising Ball which will change the lives of 125 children with facial deformities including cleft lips and cleft palates.
Duncan Bannatyne, who is a strong supporter of the charity Operation Smile, is hosting the event to raise enough money to fund a medical mission to Ghana.
The mission will see around 125 free and safe operations carried out giving beautiful new smiles to children who would otherwise have been unable to receive the surgery.
Duncan has visited Vietnam with Operation Smile, following previous trips to Mexico to see for himself the life-changing work being carried out by the charity.
When he travelled to Guadalajara in Mexico in 2013 with a team of volunteers from Operation Smile, who provided life-changing, safe and effective reconstructive surgery to 118 children born with this severe and debilitating condition he says he found the experience “humbling and deeply moving”,
On his visits to Mexico and Vietnam, Mr Bannatyne witnessed some of the operations first-hand and got to know many of the parents and children who the charity has helped.
The Ball, to be held in the stunning Montgomerie Suite at The Bannatyne Hotel and Spa in Hastings, will feature a champagne reception, mouth-watering dinner, exclusive auction prizes and live entertainment.
Duncan Bannatyne said: “Operation Smile carries out amazing work with vulnerable children across areas of the world where they simply would not have access to this type of medical treatment without the charity’s help.
“I am pleased and proud that I can continue to support Operation Smile and I am certain that this will be a fantastic evening of great food, great entertainment and great company.”
Operation Smile is an international children’s medical charity with a presence in more than 60 countries, whose network of more than 5,400 medical volunteers from over 80 countries is dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children. Since its founding in 1982, Operation Smile has provided more than 220,000 free surgeries for children and young adults born with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities. To build long-term self-sufficiency in resource poor environments, Operation Smile trains doctors and local medical professionals in its partner countries so they are empowered to treat their local communities. Operation Smile also donates medical equipment, supplies and provides year-round medical treatment through its worldwide centres.
Ticket sales:
£100 per ticket/tables of ten available
Hollie Nicole – 01325 356677