CLUED up fundraisers ditched their plain clothes for glittery garb for the evening at a charity themed extravaganza ‘Watching the Detectives’.
Super sleuth partygoers helped to raise thousands of pounds at the 23rd annual St Teresa’s Ball, at the Xcel Centre, Newton Aycliffe.
The show-stopping event, which has raised in excess of £250,000 over the past two decades, helps to fund the hospice, which provides free care for the people of Darlington, South Durham and North Yorkshire affected by life-limiting illness.
Hundreds of guests enjoyed detective-themed table decorations with fake moustaches, spy glasses, false noses and handcuffs, before sitting down to a four course evening of fine dining and music provided by the Royal Northern College of Music Session Orchestra and musical comedy string ensemble Graffiti Classics.
A raft of prizes, including holidays, pamper sessions, days out, vouchers and bottles of champagne, were on offer with an everyone wins raffle, and a star auction to win a gourmet chef for the evening as well as a table elimination game with neon detective whistles.
St Teresa’s Hospice chief executive Jane Bradshaw said: “The ball is always the main highlight in the hospice’s social calendar and each year we try to come up with a fun theme which everyone can really enjoy.
“Once again we have had incredible support from local businesses, advertisers and everyone who has donated prizes for this evening, including our amazing guests and our main sponsors for the evening Tompkins Investments Ltd and entertainment sponsor Charles Clinkard.
“Our volunteers, staff and income generation team have done a fabulous job organising the whole event and we are extremely grateful to Barclays and Lloyds banks who have helped by matching all funds raised this evening.”