Snowflake Ball Raises Over £24k For Sick Children’s Trust

A charity ball began Christmas in style at The Newcastle Gateshead Marriot Hotel, raising over £24,000 for The Sick Children’s Trust.

The Snowflake Ball, now in its third year, raised £24,729 for The Sick Children’s Trust – a charity which supports families with seriously ill children in Newcastle upon Tyne’s Freeman Hospital and Royal Victoria Infirmary, with free ‘Home from Home’ accommodation, close to their child’s bedside.

The evening, organised by the charity’s North East Fundraising Committee, saw over 200 guests attend the glittering event with a champagne reception, sumptuous dinner and entertainment. Guests made generous pledges after hearing first-hand from parents Mark and Sarah Ramshaw who were supported by The Sick Children’s Trust’s Crawford House, at the RVI. Mark and Sarah stayed at Crawford House for three weeks when their son William was diagnosed with Down’s syndrome and a imperforated anus at birth. Sick Children’s Trust’s Campaign and Appeals Manager, Caroline O’Doherty, says:

“The generosity we’ve received this year from The Snowflake Ball has been absolutely incredible, we are over the moon with the amount of money raised. Although The Sick Children’s Trust provides accommodation free to families with seriously ill children, it costs the charity £30 to support a family for one night. This amount of money will make a significant difference to the families we support in the North East at our ‘Homes from Home’ Crawford House and Scott House. We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who came, the North East Fundraising Committee and of course The Marriott Hotel for its continued support.”

North East Fundraising Committee member, Jackie Finneran, says:

“It was an outstanding evening and we were overwhelmed with everyone’s generosity. We’re delighted that each year the event continues to thrive and we hope to continue its success so we can make a difference to the thousands of families that need a ‘Home from Home’ when their child is seriously ill in hospital.”

Lesley Johnston, from The Marriott Hotel, who is also a committee member, says:

“The Marriott Hotel is delighted, as always, to be able to help The Sick Children’s Trust. It was clear how moved our guests were when Mark and Sarah shared their story and showed just how important The Sick Children’s Trust’s work is.”

Alongside Crawford House and Scott House, The Sick Children’s Trust runs eight other ‘Homes from Home’ across the country. Last year, the charity supported over 4,000 families with seriously ill children in hospital.

To find out more about The Sick Children’s Trust, please visit: www.sickchildrenstrust.org