Chestnut Tree House’s 10th Snowman Spectacular Fundraising Ball took place last month and raised a staggering £566,025, more than ever before. The Ball marked a decade of collaboration between the charity and The Snowman™ - the iconic character created by Chestnut Tree House Patron, Raymond Briggs CBE almost 40 years ago.

The 564 guests enjoyed a three-course meal, an exclusive winter wonderland setting, an evening packed with entertainment and a host of fundraising activities.

The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the heartfelt speech by 18 year-old Rebecca Torricelli, who spoke about what Chestnut Tree House means to her and her family. Rebecca has been using the services of Chestnut Tree House since she was five, and talked about how her life has changed in that time, and how the hospice has been a lifeline to the whole family over the years.

Linda Perry, Director of Children’s Services at Chestnut Tree House said: “We are so incredibly grateful to everyone who attended our tenth Snowman Spectacular Fundraising Ball for their overwhelming support and generosity. We simply couldn’t continue to provide all our specialist care services to local children and families without it. £566,025 is an amazing amount of money and in total will pay for nearly 12 weeks of care provided by Chestnut Tree House both at the hospice and out in the community in families’ own homes.

“To put this fundraising effort into perspective, the amount raised in this one incredible evening is more than twice as much as our annual grant from central government, so it really will make a difference to the local life-limited children and families who need our help.”

Photo credits: Graham Franks Photography