Express & Star

IN PICTURES: Hundreds turn out to support Promise Dreams charity

It was a night of glitz and glamour as hundreds united to help make the dreams of terminally ill youngsters come true.

Published

More than 350 people donned their floor-length gowns and bow ties as they came together to raise cash for Wolverhampton-based Promise Dreams.

The city's Porsche Centre was transformed into a swanky ballroom, with more than 30 cars moved from inside the company's Stafford Road base for the annual festivities.

Charity trustee Suresh Bawa said it was 'incredibly humbling' to see the difference the charity makes to the lives of sick children.

He added: "It's our biggest fundraising event of the year, it's a fantastic event. We want to create smiles by having smiles ourselves.

"We get a lot of people who say Christmas starts when Promise Dreams has it's annual Christmas party.

"It makes me incredibly proud and it sort of reaffirms your faith in the kindness in people."

Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event
Hundreds attended Friday's Promise Dreams event

The popular gala dinner, dubbed 'Poppett's Stars and Cars Party', saw a host of well-known faces join the celebrations on Friday evening.

Ian 'Porky' Jones, of Wolverhampton Speedway, helped host the night, with appearances from Carol Decker of 80s pop group TPau and Wolverhampton-born presenter Suzi Perry.

Other guests included Nathan Moore from 1980s band Brother Beyond, singer Kelly Wilde and DJ Leroy Lurve.

Boyband East17, who scooped the 1994 Christmas number one with 'Stay Another Day', also took to the stage alongside reigning Miss Black Country Alexandra Darby.

The 23-year-old, who lives in Tividale, said: "I support a lot of charities in the local area. I support charities where I can but it's even better when I can perform at them.

"For charities, especially small charities like Promise Dreams, I think it's really important to raise awareness, which was my aim when I won Miss Black Country."

Simon Priest, centre principal of Wolverhampton's Porsche branch, was inspired to revamp his workplace into a fundraising hall after supporting Promise Dreams at an event last year.

The entire showroom was put on hold during the week leading up to the ball, with a stage specially constructed over the reception area and everything else moved out.

Mr Priest said: "I'm really lucky, I have one daughter, she's happy and healthy. I just had to get involved. Whatever money we raise, you know it makes a difference. It's really enriching being part of this."

Promise Dreams, based at Stafford Road's Boundary Industrial Estate, supports terminally and seriously ill young people by helping to make their wishes comes true.

Previous initiatives have included whisking one young girl to Disneyland Paris, gifting a specialist bike to a young boy with drastically reduced mobility and giving a family a holiday in Poole.