• Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

North East Connected

Hopping Across The North East From Hub To Hub

Charity ball will boost North East children’s hospital unit

ByEmily

May 16, 2017

TICKETS are still available for an exclusive black tie ball which aims to make a difference to the lives of young people with special needs across the North East.

Sunderland-based charity Hope 4 Kidz will stage its Hopes and Dreams Ball at Lumley Castle, Chester-le-Street, on Friday 9 June.

Hope 4 Kidz helps disadvantaged young people who are living with life-limiting illnesses, special needs or are in poverty, and is funded entirely by the support of kind-hearted individuals and the business community.

Guests will enjoy a four-course dinner, live music and a disco, raffles, auctions, and the chance to win special prizes with all proceeds going directly to the charity, which this year celebrates its 10 year anniversary.

To mark the event, charity chiefs are supporting an appeal to purchase new parental beds for the chronic sick children’s unit at Sunderland Royal Hospital. Money raised on the night will hopefully fund at least one of these new beds, which will make life easier for parents who are forced to spend time in hospital with their youngsters.

Viv Watts of Hope 4 Kidz explained: “Parents often have to stay with chronically ill children for many nights sitting up in a chair and this can lead to exhaustion as well as discomfort.

“The beds cost £2000 each and will be integrated into the ward furniture so when they’re not in use they can be stored upright against the wall. The ball will raise cash for this appeal as we continue to work hard to make a difference to the lives of young people who need it.”

Hope 4 Kidz trustees have also recently agreed to support the Amber’s Law campaign, set up in memory of 25-year-old Amber Rose Cliff of Sunderland, who lost her life to cervical cancer in January.

Her father Darren and brother, Josh, are campaigning to get the age of cervical screening lowered to 18, after a scan with a private health provider at the age of 21 showed that she had already developed the disease.

“Amber’s Law is something very close to our hearts and we will be supporting it as much as we possibly can,” added Viv. “We plan to raise awareness as much as possible, and will be doing this through the ball and at our other events this year.

“We still have some tickets remaining and look forward to welcoming guests to what promises to be a fantastic evening.”

Tickets for the Hopes and Dreams ball cost £52.50 each and are available by calling Hope 4 Kidz on 0191 534 7788 or emailing info@hope4kidz.org.uk. For more information on Hope 4 Kidz visit www.hope4kidz.org.

By Emily