Ilkley black-tie ball to raise money and awareness for MS

Bev Wright is organising the Ice Ball at the Craiglands Hotel on May 7, following events in 2013 and 2014, raising money for MS charities.

In addition to the evening of music, food and a fundraising auction and raffle, the ball will this year release a specially-recorded song to raise further funds for the cause.

A singer, who will be performing at the ball, is to record The Ice Ball Anthem, which will then be available to download on iTunes in aid of charity.

Bev was a fitness instructor in the Leeds area for 20 years before she was diagnosed with the neurological condition.

She said: “I was that shocked that I knew I had to do something and I decided to hold a charity ball.”

The first MS charity ball took place in November 2013, attracting 180 guests and raising £6,500, which was divided between the Leeds Branch of the MS Society and the West Yorkshire MS Therapy Centre in Rawdon.

Following the success of the ball, a second event took place in November 2014. Almost 300 people attended and £11,000 was raised for Yorkshire Brain Research Centre.

Bev added: "I wanted to keep fundraising, but obviously with my condition I need to pace myself, so I decided the ball will now run every 18 months.

"I also wanted a name so that when people heard it they automatically associated it with MS – like the Firecracker and Candlelighter events for their charities. A fellow MS sufferer came up with Ice and I loved it."

She added: "So many people don't even know what MS is so the events are as much about raising awareness as funds."

Bev hopes to attract 400 people to this year's ball. Tickets cost £60 and are available at the msfundraising.co.uk website. The event includes a meal, live band, a DJ and prizes to be won on the night. There will also be a professional magician and MC, and the singer recording the Ice Ball Anthem will perform the song on the night.

The Yorkshire Clinic in Bingley is sponsoring the ball.