Huntingdonshire business community comes together to support worthy causes

The organisers of a charity ball have expressed their gratitude after guests helped raise thousands of pounds on Friday evening (June 17).

Hosted by St Ives business, Le Mark, the Friends of Huntingdonshire Charity Ball saw guests dig deep to pledge more than £14,000 to the Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust and the Macmillan Woodlands Centre appeal.

The black-tie event, held at the Marriott Hotel, in Huntingdon, featured a three-course dinner, live entertainment from London based band Groove Entertainment, and a host of fund-raising fun, including a raffle and auction.

Among the top lots of on offer, guests were invited to bid on a 10-day stay in a Florida villa, tickets to the Royal Opera House, in London and personally autographed photos supplied by the actor Warwick Davis depicting his rolls in both Star Wars and Harry Potter.

Among those in attendance were Huntingdon MP, Jonathan Djanogly, and the new police and crime commissioner for Cambridgeshire, Jason Ablewhite as well business from across the region including Urban & Civic, ACE Tech and the West Anglian Training Association.

Le Mark managing director, Stuart Gibbons said: “The first Huntingdonshire Charity Ball proved that when dedicated and likeminded people come together for charity something truly special and amazing will happen.”

The idea for the ball was the brainchild of Le Mark employee, Kirsty Fisher, who lost her partner Dave Cartwright to a stroke in July 2015.

Mr Gibbons added: “The event was not only to celebrate Dave’s life but to raise money to support the hospitals that had helped him.”