The Wish Centre Gala Ball

A Night of Glamour and Giving: The Wish Centre Gala Ball Raises Over £10,000 for Domestic Abuse Survivors

The Wish Centre’s Gala Ball, held at the stunning Dunkenhalgh Hotel in Blackburn, was a powerful celebration of community, resilience, and hope. With over £10,000 raised, the event will directly support vital services for survivors of domestic abuse, including refuge accommodation, counselling, advocacy, and education programmes.

We were honoured to welcome distinguished guests including the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Councillor Jacqueline Slater, and Pauline Geraghty MBE, Chair of Trustees, who opened the evening with heartfelt words. The event was hosted by the charismatic John “Gilly” Gilmore, whose energy kept the night flowing beautifully.

Guests were treated to a champagne reception, a three-course dinner, and unforgettable entertainment. The evening opened with a sensational swing performance by Arthur Geldard, followed by live music from the incredible Hit the Dancefloor Band, who kept the dancefloor buzzing until midnight.

A deeply moving moment came when Key Crawford, a survivor of domestic abuse, shared her story of transformation, hope and resilience, reminding us all why The Wish Centre’s work is so essential.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our headline sponsor, Haydock Finance, whose unwavering support has helped make this event possible. Their commitment to our cause spans over a decade, and their presence at the Ball, represented by Lizzie Moorby and team, was a testament to their dedication to ending domestic abuse.

The evening also featured a charity raffle with prizes generously donated by:

• Atom Commnications, Beaverbrook’s Jewellers, Blackburn Rovers, Boots UK, John Lewis & Partners, Laura Ashley, Lush Cosmetics, Mercure Dunkenhalgh Hotel & Spa, Next plc, Stanley House Hotel & Spa, The Rum Fox, Tiggis Ribble Valley, Tropics Tanning Salon, TT Games Studios, Watson Ramsbottom Solicitors, Wm Morrisons, and many more.

To everyone who attended, donated, performed, and supported - thank you. Your generosity helps us replace fear with safety, despair with hope, and silence with strength.

To support The Wish Centre or learn more, contact: nichola.strahan@thewishcentre.org