Inaugural Thunder Ball raises over £30,000 for local children's charities

The inaugural Thunder Ball was hosted on Saturday night at the Hilton Hotel in Liverpool city centre to raise much needed funds for local children’s charities including Alder Hey, Owen McVeigh Foundation and Young Lives vs Cancer.

The glitzy event, attended by over 300 people, was supported by many of the Hollyoaks cast, Ricky Tomlinson, Claire Sweeney, Lucy Meacock and Ian ‘H’ Watkins from Steps and was hosted by Hits Radio’s Leanne Campbell and Pete Price.

The Thunder Ball, organised by Chantelle, Jane and Barrie Joseph, was inspired by their nephew and Grandson Fabian Morley, who was diagnosed with Burkitt Lymphoma last April and was treated at Alder Hey Hospital. When Fabian rang the bell in August, signalling the end of his treatment and a positive outcome, the family decided that they wanted to repay the hospital and the charities who had supported them through the worst of times.

Georgia Morley, Fabian’s mother said:

‘We owe Fabian’s life to Alder Hey and the support we received from the Owen McVeigh Foundation and Young Lives v Cancer during the darkest period of our lives is incalculable. To be able to say thank you in this way surrounded by our family, friends and loved ones means so much to my husband James and I. We are grateful to everyone who has supported us from day one and to my sister Chantelle and mum Jane and dad Barrie for creating the Thunder Ball for Fabian’.

The action packed, fun-filled evening was sponsored by Kingspan and dressed by The Event Agency and a balloon installation from Jumping Jacks events, with entertainment from Steve Charles, 7 piece band LP Collective and DJ Dave Seed.