Galloways Charity Ball 2025

On Saturday 8th November, our community came together for an unforgettable evening of music, celebration, and heartfelt generosity at the second Galloways Charity Ball. It was a night that perfectly captured the spirit of our organisation—full of connection, compassion and a shared commitment to supporting blind and visually impaired people across Lancashire and Sefton.

From the moment our guests arrived, the room was alive with warmth and excitement. The incredible Local Vocals choir set the tone for the evening with a stunning flash mob performance that included Simple Minds – Don’t You (Forget About Me) – a song that carries deep meaning for all of us at Galloways. Seeing our very own Volunteer Ambassador, Lorraine Virco perform with the choir was a proud moment for the whole team.

A moving tribute to our Belle of the Ball

One of the most powerful moments of the evening came when Stephen, father of our 2024 Belle of the Ball, Hollie Leishmann, delivered a beautiful and deeply emotional tribute to his daughter. Hollie needed the support of Galloways in her own journey after being diagnosed with a brain tumour aged 22 earlier in 2025, just weeks after she attended our inaugural ball. Hollie tragically passed away in September 2025 and Stephen attended the ball as a guest with his family to remember Hollie and celebrate her life in their own way. Stephen’s words touched everyone in the room. His courage, honesty and love moved guests to tears – and inspired an incredibly generous donation immediately afterwards.

Stories of impact that make everything possible

Throughout the evening, our beneficiaries shared their stories and spoke about the life-changing impact of attending Galloways activities and events – many of which are made possible thanks to the generosity of supporters who attend the Charity Ball. Hearing directly from the people we support reminded us all why this event matters so much. Every ticket bought, every raffle entered and every pledge made helps us reach more people with vital advice, connection and confidence-building support.

Nine Water Park places funded!

In a truly heartwarming moment, supporters came together to fund nine fully paid places for our 2026 Water Park trip – a transformational outdoor experience for visually impaired adults and children. These places will ensure that even more people can build confidence, independence and lifelong memories. A special thank you to Maureen Austin, a service user from Chorley who was gifted a place at Water Park after the 2024 ball, and has found a new lease of life with Galloways at the vibrant age of 70! Her speech inspired people in the room to support us.

An incredible £27,000 raised

Thanks to the kindness of everyone in the room, we raised an amazing £27,000 – a total that will directly help blind and visually impaired people across our community. This generosity helps us deliver our mission and move closer to our aim of reaching more people with life-enhancing support.

This achievement is something our entire team is immensely proud of.

Thank you to our fantastic team

Events like this do not happen by accident – they are created through teamwork, passion and dedication. We are incredibly proud of our entire team and our brilliant volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make the night a success. Their creativity, hard work and heart shone through in every detail.

Thank you to our supporters, entertainers and sponsors

To the many businesses and individuals who donated, sponsored, booked tables or contributed raffle and auction prizes – you made this evening possible. We are especially grateful to our headline sponsor, CHEC, for your continued support. Also, thanks to MC Andy Ashworth, DJ Carl Leeming, Magic Mike – King of Aces Entertainment, Louise Martin Photography, Impulse Decisions and of course to the unforgettable flash mob from Local Vocals—an absolute highlight!

Save the date: Our next Charity Ball

We’re already planning our next celebration, and we would love for you to join us. So, get in touch with Kelly Love if you would like to find out more details – don’t miss out as tables are already selling fast!

Saturday 21st November 2026
Ribby Hall Hotel – Woodland Suite
6:30pm – Midnight
£69 per person or £650 for a table of 10