Ben Shephard and Rochelle Humes helped raise more than £100,000 at our Big Birthday Ball for Haven House at the spectacular De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London on Thursday 11 October.    

Sponsored by Chigwell Group, The Health Lottery ELM and Galliard Homes, over 350 guests attended the record-breaking black tie fundraising event which was hosted by long-standing Haven House Patron Ben Shephard and Ambassador Rochelle Humes.  

Fellow celebrity guests included Billie Faiers and Greg Shepherd, Lord and Lady Fellowes, Richard Arnold and Haven House Patrons Vicki Michelle and Martin Ellice.

Prized lots which went under the hammer at auction included a private dinner at the home of celebrity chief Tony Singh which raised £10,000 and an exclusive VIP cinema screening experience at Universal Pictures in London which generated £7,000.

After a three-course dinner guests were shown Haven House’s new appeal film which features the story of Enfield parents Jaycee Wharfe and Rikilee Webster and their son, Finnley

Finnley has Holoprosencephaly, a rare genetic condition resulting in incomplete brain development. The film shows the family receiving support from Haven House’s Toy Home Loan service and Finnley enjoying music therapy and physiotherapy at the hospice in Woodford Green.   

Mike Palfreman, Chief Executive at Haven House, said: “This year’s ball exceeded our expectations and raised over £100,000, a record-breaking figure in our charity’s history.

“I would like to thank all of our guests for their exceptional generosity and our magnificent hosts Ben Shephard and Rochelle Humes, and our sponsors Chigwell Group, The Health Lottery ELM and Galliard Homes.  

“The ball raised an incredible amount for our hospice and will help us support more children like Finnley and their families in the coming year. We are also grateful to our staff and volunteers who worked hard to deliver an unforgettable evening.”  

If you enjoyed our Big Birthday Ball, then join us at our Business Breakfast with Dragon’s Den stars Deborah Meadon and Evan Davis at the RAC Club on 6 December.