Annual ball held in Buxton raises more than £200,000 for end of life care

The third annual #ChallengeDerbyshire charity ball was held in support of three end of life care charities in North Derbyshire – Ashgate Hospicecare, Blythe House Hospicecare and Helen’s Trust.

The event was attended by nearly 500 guests and raised a sum in excess of £200,000. This means #ChallengeDerbyshire has now raised more than £1.1million in total for patients and their families across North Derbyshire thanks to a number of events and challenges.

David Hopkins, CEO of M Markovitz Ltd and co-founder of #ChallengeDerbyshire said: “Thank you so much to everyone who has helped us reach this fantastic milestone so soon. I hoped we would hit

the £1million but to smash it raising well over £200k on the night taking us past £1.1million was amazing. Excellent end of life care should never be a ‘nice to have’, it should be an absolute right for everyone. We must never take for granted the incredible work our three charities do for patients and their families at the most difficult time in their lives. The support we have received from local businesses has been incredible but the need doesn’t go away. Please keep giving as generously as you do and encourage

others to join us in support of our three wonderful charities.”

The evening, hosted by local radio legends Paul Jenner and Damian Senar, included a lavish four course dinner, live music from band Function Fever, as well as a fantastic guest performance from newly-crowned BBC Songs of Praise Young Choir of the Year, Perfect Pitch, who continue to support

#ChallengeDerbyshire, having themselves raised more than £10,000 for the cause.

Director of fundraising at Ashgate Hospicecare and Blythe House Hospicecare, Esther Wakeman, said: “Currently one in four families who need hospice care can’t get it, that’s about 16 families a week across North Derbyshire.

“#ChallengeDerbyshire’s support is changing that and giving local people the choice to die at home, free from pain, with dignity and respect. Please help us be there for every family when they need us.”