Star-studded charity event raises £25,000 for brain tumour research

(L-R: Chantelle Louise Bastock, Ian Bell, Professor Garth Cruickshank, Stine Giles, Ashley Giles, Jim Troughton. Photograph courtesy of Callum Barker.)

On Saturday 8 October, a glamourous ball to raise money for research into brain tumours took place at Edgbaston Stadium, attended by stars of sport, stage and screen from Birmingham and beyond.

Over 300 guests gathered in Birmingham to attend the Moulin Rouge-themed event, which took place to benefit brain tumour charity The Giles’ Trust, supported by QEHB Charity. The Giles’ Trust was set up by England cricketer Ashley Giles and his wife Stine after Stine was treated for a brain tumour at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

The event included a drinks reception, three course meal, raffle, and silent auction. A live auction, led by the fantastic Jonny Gould, also took place, with incredible prizes on offer, including a holiday to South Africa. Live music was provided by Amelia Brown and Paul Greetham before guests partied the night away with radio presenter and DJ Phil Upton. The Master of Ceremonies was none other than voiceover actor Tom Clarke-Hill, who is the voice of Tony the Tiger!

The guests included friends of Ashley and Stine from the world of sport, such as ex-Aston Villa manager Ron Atkinson and cricketers Ian Bell, Dougie Brown and Jim Troughton, as well as Harry Potter actor Oliver Phelps. An incredible £25,000 was raised in total, thanks to the generosity of those who organised and attended the ball.
This was the second event of its kind; the first Giles’ Trust ball was held in 2015, in celebration of the charity’s launch, and themed around the 1980s.

Cathryn Worth, Senior Fundraiser at QEHB Charity, said: “This was a fantastic event and brilliant fun for everyone who attended. Ashley, Stine, and the dedicated team of friends and family who helped to make this possible have put an incredible amount of effort into making the ball such a success and raising a phenomenal £25,000 for brain tumour research. Thank you all.”

For more information about The Giles Trust, please go to qehb.org/thegilestrust