Contact Nabarro - Charity Ball 2009

This year that special cause is the Teenage Cancer Trust, and specifically its unit at Weston Park Hospital in Sheffield. Teenage Cancer Trust focuses on the particular needs of teenagers and young adults with cancer, leukaemia, Hodgkin’s and related diseases by creating specialist teenage units in NHS hospitals.

TCT units are dedicated areas for teenage patients who are involved in their concept and design. As well as state of-the-art facilities to keep patients occupied during long stays in hospital, the units provide an environment where teenagers can meet others in a similar situation. They allow patients to build friendships and mechanisms to cope with their disease without being patronised or ignored.

Carl Dray, charities partner in Sheffield, states, "The local TCT Unit does a wonderful job in supporting young people at a really difficult time in their lives. Our involvement with the Unit is special to us. The money raised will go towards equipping a new haematology ward dedicated to TCT patients at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital here in Sheffield. The Ball this year was a fantastic event. Along with the Firewalk and the Sheffield Marathon the Ball has raised a terrific amount of money to kick start our fundraising for the new ward."

From ticket and raffle sales and a well-supported auction, over £14,000 has been raised. More than 200 people attended the event, from Contact Nabarro contacts in the Sheffield area, to Partners and colleagues and their families, to existing and prospective clients. The overwhelming sense from the feedback is that everybody had a fabulous time.

To make it an extra special and emotional night, we were very lucky to be joined by patients from the local unit, who, we are delighted to say, had a wonderful time.

And, to top it all off, our special guest Tony Christie did his 'Amarillo Walk' to the delight of everybody in attendance.

The Ball was just another great step in what has already been a very successful year so far for the Sheffield office and TCT, as we have raised £35,000 for the Unit. We can all be very proud of this achievement. However, there is still half of the year to go so we have to keep the success rolling on.

The Contact Nabarro Committee would like to say a huge thank you to all those who attended and supported the ball, including those businesses and organisations around Sheffield who sponsored the event, but, in particular, all our colleagues. Thank you for making it a fantastic night.