WWSA is a Gold Sponsor of the Bone Cancer Research Trust Masquerade Ball. This charity is very close to our hearts and, earlier this month, we attended the event that we sponsored. This is the biggest event in the charity’s calendar. And what a fantastic night it was! Most importantly, the event raised over £130,000 that will go to support the incredible work they do.
The theme of the ball this year was on the importance of awareness of primary bone cancer. It is not well known amongst the public and health professionals, with many patients visiting healthcare professionals 7 times or more before receiving a diagnosis. Earlier diagnosis can significantly improve outcomes.
This is the second year that we have been a Gold Sponsor of this event. Sponsors are invited to an exclusive VIP reception before the event where we enjoyed up-close magic and photo opportunities with some of our star performers from the evening.
The star performers included the Britain’s Got Talent winner Richard Jones - who was performing close up magic for guests in the VIP area prior to his turn on the stage. Also performing were X-factor star Joe McElderry, West End legend Marisha Wallace, and the one and only Baga Chipz - the hilariously outrageous drag queen from the UK version of Ru Paul’s Drag Race.
We also heard from two patients who bravely shared two very different and very moving diagnosis stories on the night.
Rachel Wallace, Senior Trusts & Corporate Sponsorship Officer for BCRT said:
“We can’t thank Tony and Karen enough for sponsoring this event over the last 2 years, helping us to bring together a room full of people whose generosity we rely on to continue our work. We simply couldn’t put on events of this scale without the support of sponsors like WWSA, and every penny raised on the night will go such a long way to ensuring that our vital work can continue.”
WWSA has a personal connection to this charity as the Directors Tony and Karen Stevens’ daughter Toni was diagnosed with an extremely rare Giant Cell Tumour in her spine in 2016. Thanks to the kind of research and modern medical treatments pioneered by the BCRT, she was able to have specialist surgery to remove the tumour and affected vertebrae and replace them with metal rods and a bone graft. Toni's condition is now stable with no recurrences of the cancer.
To find out more about The Bone Cancer Research Trust and their mission or to make a donation to this extremely worthy cause. Please visit the BCRT website.
