Ball huge success in raising Emergency Funds

We are delighted that our Ambassadors’ Ball held on 17th June 2023 at the Hyatt The Churchill, London, has once again broken all records to raise vital funds for Darfur, at a time when they are most desperately needed.

After all the expenses, the profit raised from this year’s Ball is an incredible £43,869.18. This will, of course, go to our Emergency Appeal to help families in Darfur devastated by the current warfare.

We were so pleased to welcome Ambassadors and guests from all over the World, including Albania, Cyprus, Honduras, Lebanon, Lithuania, Myanmar, South Africa, The UAE, Turkey, Uganda, Vietnam, and of course, Sudan, to our Ball. Your help and generosity has raised vital funds for the children of Darfur. We would especially like to thank all of you who could not join us this year, but who have contributed so generously towards the Ball.

After all the hard work behind the scenes, it is always wonderful to see everything come together. Ladies, you all looked stunning in beautiful Ball gowns, and the gentlemen looked incredibly dapper! The champagne Reception saw everyone excited to catch up in the library, and then we had the delicious dinner and unforgettable petits fours, with delectable drinks supplied by our wonderful sponsor, IDS.

How do we even begin to thank all our friends who have donated fabulous prizes to our Auctions, Raffle and Locked Box? The Raffle alone raised £4,252 – that’s 85 goats! Five goats each for SEVENTEEN families!

And the auction? This truly was our best yet – at a time when the funds raised are needed now, more than ever.

Hugh Edmeades, International Auctioneer, once again worked his magic and had lots of fun leading the Live Auction – with our youngest guests enthusiastically bidding for many of the prizes! We are so pleased that Paddington and his friend the Goat have found a wonderful new home!

Stefania Indelicato again created a unique malachite, pearl and coral necklace, Michael Blyth donated not one but THREE family photoshoots, a really special prize, Liz Sutton donated a wonderful Goat-skin Tote Bag, IDS donated a wheelbarrow of wine and Philip Treacy OBE donated the most beautiful hat which we were all vying for! There were beautiful paintings including a Watercolour by Diana Armfield RA, ‘Cat and Nicotiana’ by Lesley Fotherby, and ‘Puddle Ducks’ by our very own Patricia Parker, and more…!

The Silent Auction included many fabulous prizes – from a wonderful Ascot-inspired hat from VV Rouleaux, beautiful jewellery from Vicki Sarge, a Tour of House of Lords, and a Tour of Lords Cricket Ground, to a Helicopter lesson, a weekend in the Brecon Beacons and a Paintballing Weekend, and lots more besides!

The Auctions together made over £25,000 – can you imagine just how many lives this will help us change in these desperate times?

The raffle saw many lucky winners and then there was the Locked Box. Always such a fun game! The queue formed right around the room and amazingly, the eighth key tried was the lucky winner! A beautiful Tiffany ‘Pearls by the Yard’ Bracelet by Elsa Peretti was the prize, won by Dr Chit Win and his wife, Mrs May Htet Oo, from Myanmar! I would really like to thank Michal and Gary for their huge generosity.

The Blue Flame band filled the dance floor from start to finish with their upbeat set-list, wonderful vocals and fabulous musicians! We cannot wait to book them again for next year – and do hope you can join us!

We are delighted with the total raised this year. The situation in Darfur is heart-breaking. The danger of travelling anywhere is putting the lives of hundreds of women and children at risk. Major food shortages have been reported. Normal life has not just been disrupted but destroyed. Our aim has always been to provide sustainable help and right now that is proving valuable beyond belief. Goats milk from our Goats provides essential proteins, vitamins and minerals to countless children who were already malnourished following drought and flood last year.   Now our goats are a lifeline to children in Darfur. By providing handpumps near villages, the danger of walking long distances is reduced and our trained midwives could not be more needed. With no health care in villages and now hospitals barely functioning they are providing desperately needed support to women during pregnancy and childbirth. We are, of course, doing all we can to alleviate the suffering at this time.

Thank you to everyone who sponsored us, advertised with us, donated prizes, volunteered to help and joined us to raise these vital funds for our Emergency Appeal – we are more grateful than we can say!

Our Sponsors and Advertisers: IDS, Delamere Dairy, Bocketts Farm, Gordon’s School, Holm PC, Sciteb and Queens Gate School

Our Auctions and Gala Raffle supporters: Alan Jenkins, Amanda Avery-Hebditch, Ambersouk Jewellery, Barbour, Boden, Brian Davis, Charles and Laura Davies, Clandon Regis Golf Club, Clutterfree with Claudia, Dante Campailla, English National Opera, Fanny and Robert Thomas, Fiona Hooper, Heli Air Gloucester, HR Owen Lamborghini, Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill, Liz Sutton, Lord Clement-Jones, Madeleine Cornish Photography, Porsche, Mark Jones, Marylebone Music Festival, Michael Blyth Photography, Michal Skutecki and Gary Wilkinson, Off Peak Luxury, Oliver Bonas, Organico Travel, Paintball Heroes, Patrick Doyle – IDS, Perfect Motion Physio, Pernod Ricard Winemakers, Philip Treacy, Ridgeway Nutrition, Scamp & Dude, The Oxo Tower Restaurant, Transzzzzformations, Trovoro Designs, Vicki Sarge, VV Rouleaux.

How do you order photos?

Thank you so much to Antonia Peña, Winner of Portrait of Britain 2022, for being our fabulous Photographer for the evening.

You can order high res images for £5 each via this link: https://www.peniaphotostudio.com/p280742055

And remember, 50% of all proceeds will go towards Kids for Kids and our Emergency Appeal for the children of Darfur!

Join us at our next Events

Fishing Day – Saturday 21st October 2023 – book tickets here!

Candlelit Christmas Concert – Wednesday 6th December 2023 – book tickets here!