Ipswich Star raises £25k for charity at annual press ball

Archant daily the Ipswich Star raised £25,000 for charity at its 16th annual press ball.

The Star had set itself the goal of raising £20,000 but managed to break its previous fund-raising records.

The money will go to local charities including the East Anglia Air Ambulance, the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Ormiston Children and Families Trust, which carries out children and family related projects across East Anglia.

The event was sponsored by a string of local businesses including local radio station Heart FM.

The Star has also raised £10,000 through its Lifesaver Appeal campaign for the East Anglia Air Ambulance, which will go towards new equipment when it starts running 24-hours later this year.

Editor Nigel Pickover said:

It was a fantastic night. Everyone had a great time and raised thousands of pounds for worthwhile causes.

I’m so proud that we smashed our target. The money raised will help change people’s lives and that is why this event is so important.

Organiser Mick Parker, of Parker communications, who has been involved since the first Press Ball, added:

The scores of feedback we’ve had from people who attended the event say it was the best ball yet.”

We raised £25,000, which is remarkable in this economic climate, and it was thanks to both the donation of prizes by local people, as well as some of the new features for this year, such as a balloon bursts and a silent text auction.