BEN Ball raises £256,000

BEN, the automotive industry charity, hosted its annual BEN Ball this week, raising £256,000 on the night with the figure expected to rise even further.

The funds generated by the spectacular annual event will be invaluable in providing practical, emotional and financial support to those employed in the automotive industry and their dependents.

David Main, BEN’s CEO, commented, ‘The BEN Ball is our most important event of the year as it raises vital income for us to continue to support our industry colleagues, enabling us to provide free information, advice and guidance to those who need it.

‘I’d like to thank everyone for their generous donations and support for BEN. I look forward to seeing everyone at the Ball next year.’

The Ben Ball 2015, held at the Grosvenor House, London, was opened by a ball-room dancing display by 2008 Strictly Come Dancing winner Tom Chambers and partner for the evening, Ali Brooke. This was followed by a full evening of entertainment, including a rousing session by the Band of the Irish Guards and a show-stopping performance by the cast of the West End hit Jersey Boys.

Fundraising activity throughout the event included the ever-popular auction and reverse bingo, but the main event of the night was the silent auction. Thanks to a vast number of generous donations from across the automotive industry and beyond, the auction contained a huge variety of fantastic prizes, from a six night safari, a Suzuki GSX-R Moto GP Special and an F1 model made from genuine F1 engine components. The star prize of the night was the newly-launched Volvo XC90 T8 Inscription which raised £70,000.