Black tie ball raises £2,550 for the hospice

Fundraiser proves a ball for hospice

A family’s fundraising efforts in memory of a wife, mother and grandmother has seen them raise a total of around £15,000 for a local hospice.

Their latest charity event has seen the Unsworth family, who live in Croxton, hand over £2,550 to St Nicholas Hospice Care, based in Bury St Edmunds.

Denise, Todd, Alex and Bethany Unsworth, along with Albert Vogeler are spurred on to raise funds in memory of a very special mum, wife and nan, Mary Vogeler. Mary was cared for by the charity before her death in 2015.

Their recent, and fourth black tie ball, held at Lyndford Hall, once again proved a hit among the family’s supporters, with live music and a raffle.

Denise said: “It was a brilliant night. Everyone had a fantastic time, even on the night we had people asking us the date for the next one. We are so lucky for the support we get. Businesses donate year after year and we had some fantastic prizes for the raffle. Lyndford Hall are really good to us as well.”

Having also undertaken a variety of other fundraising challenges the family have now raised £15,462 for the charity, which cares for people across West Suffolk and Thetford living with dying, death and grief.

Denise and Bethany have pulled on their flashing bunny ears to take part in Girls Night Out, Alex has conquered a Great Wall of China trek and the hospice’s Battle of the Knights event.

Todd has proved he has a head for heights by completing a skydive and Albert also shares stories of his life with local groups, which has led to donations too.

Denise said: “As a family we were so well supported by the hospice. We are so grateful for everything they did not just for mum but for all of us. Because of the hospice I was allowed to be a daughter, and we will all do everything we can to give other families the chance we had, the chance to be together and the chance to be a family. We want everyone to have the same experiences we did, and that’s why we keep fundraising for the hospice.”

The family is already planning next year’s ball, which is set to take place at Lynford Hall on Saturday, May 16.

Miranda McCoy, the hospice’s community fundraiser, said: “I am just in awe of the Unsworth family. As a charity, we are so fortunate to have loyal supporters such as these. Every year they put on a brilliant event and I am so pleased this year’s ball has been no exception. They really are a wonderful family and they make such a difference to the hospice, thank you for everything you do.”

Pictured above, left to right, are Alex, Todd and Denise Unsworth alongside Albert Vogeler handing over £2,550 to St Nicholas Hospice Care following their fourth successful black-tie ball.