Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice brought their 10th anniversary celebrations to a fabulous, glamorous close with a spectacular charity ball, which raised an incredible £25,000 for the vital children’s charity.

Hosted by Harry Gration, former presenter of BBC Look North and a Forget Me Not ambassador, the event saw 290 guests enjoy fine dining, music from The Monotones – York Races house band – and an auction at the Queens Hotel in Leeds.

The ball marks the end of a year of celebrations to commemorate 10 years since the charity received the keys to Russell House, its purpose built children’s hospice in Huddersfield.

Every penny of the £25,000 raised in ticket sales and fundraising on the night will go towards supporting local children with life-shortening conditions and their families both at the hospice and in their own homes.

Vicky Stackhouse, event organiser, said: “What an amazing night! A great atmosphere, lots of fun and a real community spirit. A huge thank you to all our guests for their generosity and support and to our sponsors, volunteers and everyone at the Queens Hotel for helping make this an evening to remember!”

Harry Gration said: “This is the first time we’ve tried a ball like this and it’s been incredibly successful. All we hope now is that we’re so firmly established in the minds of people in and around Huddersfield that they will automatically want to contribute to the funding of Forget Me Not’s success in the future.

“Russell House, of course, is going to be here for the next 10 years and the work that we do here with children and families who need it so desperately, sums up something very special about Yorkshire folk, as far as I’m concerned. So, thank you for your support – and keep supporting Forget Me Not because it’s money well spent.”

Forget Me Not’s 10th anniversary ball was sponsored by Yorkshire Payments, Thornhill Estates and Pinnacle Group.