Gala raises £320,000 for families with children in hospital

A 'hybrid ' gala dinner raised £320,000 for a charity which provides free 'home away from home ' accommodation for families with children in hospital.

Ronald McDonald House Charities UK staged the event at the Grand Hotel in Birmingham - and it was also streamed live to a virtual audience.

Guests were entertained by live music and dancers, as well as exclusive interviews with the likes of Brummie TV star Alison Hammond and Olympic gold medal-winning boxer Galal Yafai.

The live stream is available to watch here.

Ronald McDonald House Charities UK has 12 houses across the UK situated in or near hospital grounds to enable seriously ill children to have their families close by when they are undergoing treatment and to maintain a degree of normal family life.

Chamber patron and board member Doug Wright (pictured) is chair of the Board of Governors at Ronald McDonald House Birmingham.

He said: I would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to everyone in Birmingham who supported us so strongly at our fund raising dinner at the Grand Hotel.

“Raising almost a third of a million pounds in one night is an amazing amount of money which will make such a difference to the families who stay with us.

“I 'm truly grateful to everyone. It shows what a special city we live and operate within and how the community works together to maintain this very special home away from home next to the Birmingham Children's Hospital. ”

For the latest news and updates about Ronald McDonald House Charities UK click here.