The red carpet was rolled out for VIP guests including Pippa Middleton, Vernon Kay, David Seaman and David Ginola at the British Heart Foundation’s annual fundraising gala at the historic Guildhall in London.
The glamourous event – the Beating Hearts Ball – welcomed BHF Ambassador and Honorary Gala Chair, Pippa Middleton, sporting legends David Ginola, Anthony Ogogo and David Seaman MBE, and X Factor winner Louisa. The guests came together for a night of fundraising to raise money for the BHF’s life saving research into heart and circulatory diseases.
A star studded event
The gala was hosted by TV and radio presenter Vernon Kay and began with a drinks and canapés reception in the Crypts. Pippa Middleton welcomed guests before a sumptuous three-course meal in the Great Hall. The evening was topped off with a performance from X Factor winner Louisa and a DJ set from the Mac Twins.
Guests took part in an array of fundraising activities in support of the charity, including a raffle with 30 luxury prizes up for grabs and a live auction with British international auctioneer Hugh Edmeades.
Once in a life-time prizes up for grabs
This incredible auction included lunch with Sir Ranulph Fiennes at L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon and a hand embroidered Roberto Cavalli dress from their 2019 Spring/Summer collection, fresh off the catwalk.
Guests bidded on the chance to win four tickets to The Late Late Show with James Corden, including a meet and greet with James himself, and a stay in the Hollywood suite at The Four Seasons. Other lots included a stay at a luxury 6 bedroom villa on the stunning Amalfi Coast and the chance for two to attend the premier of the highly anticipated Bond 25 film.
‘An incredible evening raising vital funds for our ground-breaking research into heart and circulatory diseases’
Pippa Middleton, Ambassador for the British Heart Foundation and Honorary Gala Chair for The Beating Hearts Ball, said:
“Since becoming a British Heart Foundation Ambassador five years ago, I have become a mother. And being a parent now myself, I appreciate even more acutely the importance of helping those who are born with or develop heart and circulatory diseases. They deserve the gift of a healthy life.
“By supporting the BHF’s Beating Hearts Ball, I have the joy of knowing that the evening brings direct benefit not only to the patients but to hospitals and research teams throughout the UK.”
Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, added:
“Thank you to everyone for making The Beating Hearts Ball a night to remember. It was an incredible evening raising vital funds for our ground-breaking research into heart and circulatory diseases, which tragically cause one in four deaths in the UK. Everyone’s support will make a huge impact in helping us beat heartbreak forever.”
All money raised from The Beating Hearts Ball will go towards funding the BHF’s vital life saving research into heart and circulatory diseases including heart attacks, stroke and vascular dementia. Heart and circulatory diseases claimed the lives of 150,000 loved ones across the UK last year – that’s one person every three minutes.
