THE team behind the Alton Charity Ball is looking for sponsors and raffle prizes for this year’s event.

Having raised £5,306 in 2019 for Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, event organisers Laura White, Kat Guenioui, Lauren White, Becky Owen and Alison Phillips, are keen to beat that total in 2020.

“We were blown away by the total amount raised last year, but a big part of that was local sponsorship and the donation of more than 50 wonderful raffle prizes,” said Kat.

“The more costs we can cover, the more money we can send on to Sands to help them in their fight to bring down the rate of stillbirth in the UK and care for bereaved parents.”

Kat puts the cost of holding the ball at around £2,000, including food, venue and equipment hire and entertainment.

Alison said: “We have wonderful partners we have worked with for the past three charity balls.

“Many of them do give their services freely to help us make as much impact as possible, but of course there are still costs.

“What we’re really hoping to do is get sponsorship to cover those overheads.”

The charity is one that is close to the hearts of all those on the ball’s organising committee, a number of whom have experienced stillbirth first hand.

This year’s event has a masquerade theme, so the ladies are also on the lookout for a craftsperson to make masks to sell to guests ahead of the ball.

The Alton Charity Ball will take place on October 10 at the Alton Maltings Centre.

Tickets at £45 can be bought now at the website www.altoncharityball.co.uk

Anyone interested in supporting the event should email [email protected]