A ‘Wonderland’-themed fundraising ball celebrating the work of Cheshire-born Lewis Carroll has been hailed as a “roaring success” after it raised more than £5,000 for Warrington Disability Partnership.
The March Hare Ball saw characters including the Cheshire Cat, Queen of Hearts and Tweedledee and Tweedledum descend on Stock Farm Barn in Ashley for a magical evening of music, fancy dress, great food and entertainment.
Guests from across Chester, Warrington, Altrincham and the North West were treated to a hare-raising night of entertainment, including a Wonderland-themed musical performance from local performing arts school The Hammond.
A stunning three-course meal was also served up by Knutsford-based catering company Fork & Field, and volunteers from the law firm Aaron & Partners – who organised the whole evening –hosted a series of ‘curiouser and curiouser’ fundraising games with an Alice in Wonderland twist.
The event was set up in aid of the Warrington Disability Partnership (WDP) and marked the start of a fundraising journey for the charity to buy a new accessible holiday home in North Wales, allowing affordable holidays and getaways for disabled people.
Dave Thompson MBE, Chief Executive of the WDP, said: “We’d like to say a huge thank you to all who attended the Wonderland March Hare Ball and played their part in making it such a memorable night.
“This was one of the biggest fundraising events we’ve ever hosted and from the feedback we’ve had, it was a roaring success.
“The vital funds we raised on the night will be crucial for our plans to continue providing great experiences for so many through a new state-of-the-art holiday home.”
The current accessible holiday home – a caravan in Pensarn – was first bought back in 2007, and since that time, more than 2,500 holidaymakers have enjoyed over 800 stays and short-term breaks in the area.
But the caravan is now in dire need of replacement to ensure guests can continue to enjoy a comfortable stay and benefit from the latest technology supporting disabled people and those living with long-term health conditions.
Adam Haines, who is an Employment Law Partner based at Aaron & Partners’ Altrincham and Warrington office, sits on the WDP’s Trustee board. He said: “This was a spectacular night in aid of a wonderful charity that supports so many people. The work WDP do often goes under the radar, which is why we wanted to organise this event to help shine a light on its work and raise vital funds.
“I know the holiday home offers a lifeline for so many people right now and we’re very proud to have helped kickstart the fundraising effort to help WDP acquire a brand new one.”
“Our thanks go to everyone who attended and the very generous donations we received on the night.”
