Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

YORKSHIRE CHARITY HAS RAISED £290,000 TO DATE TO SUPPORT OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS AND TREATMENT

The second Hope Ball was a huge success once again with the Yorkshire based Hope Trust committee raising more than £120,000 in aid of ovarian cancer research and treatment in one night alone. Together with last year’s fundraising the total raised by The Hope Trust in two years is £290,000.

Nearly 500 guests attended the glittering ball at Rudding Park in North Yorkshire. This year’s theme was Geisha style complete with glowing lanterns, ribbon dancers, operatic performers and a fortune cookie game to win a stunning pearl and diamond necklace. A series of money can’t buy auction items set pulses racing and bidders gave generously to the charity's cause.

Gordons LLP, Coutts and Co and KPMG were headline sponsors for the occasion that was hosted by Yorkshire’s very own Linda Barker. 80s legend Alexander O’Neal had guests dancing to his old classics until the early hours.

The success of The Hope Ball means that considerable financial aid can be given to The Hope Trust's beneficiaries. Ninety percent of the funds raised goes to national charity, The Eve Appeal which supports a world leading programme dedicated to funding research into the early detection, prevention and treatment of ovarian cancer. The remaining ten percent of funds is donated equally between the Oncology Research Trust Fund and Haematology, Oncology Day Unit Trust Fund both at Airedale General Hospital, West Yorkshire.

The Hope Trust was set up after the mother of one member was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer. The committee of five Yorkshire business women have dedicated considerable time and effort to deliver a number of unique and memorable occasions that can ultimately generate annual support and more importantly create a platform to raise better awareness about the subtle symptoms of ovarian cancer.

Currently the recognition of symptoms is alarmingly low and has led to the disease being dubbed ‘the silent killer’. Often mistaken for non fatal illnesses such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and diagnosed too late for effective treatment, ovarian cancer is the most common and most fatal of gynaecological cancers in the UK claiming the lives of 5,000 (71%) of the 7,000 women diagnosed each year. It kills more women than cervical and uterine cancer combined but symptoms are subtle, hard to spot and there's no reliable screening method. When detected in its most advanced stage, around 85 per cent of women will die. With early detection, around 95 per cent can survive.

The Hope Trust has announced plans for a series of further fundraising events. For further info about booking tickets, sponsorship opportunities and donating prizes or simply to make a donation to The Hope Trust please contact 0113 394 7970. www.thehopetrust.org.uk

Ends

For further media information please contact:

Louise French/ Dee Goldstraw
French PR
Phone: 0113 2424999
M: 07939 164321
E: louise@frenchpr.co.uk
E: dee@frenchpr.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

The Trustees: Kirstyn Pollard, Lucy Meredith, Eleanor Richardson, Eleanor Kernighan and Louise French