Supporters of Epilepsy Scotland gathered in Glasgow on Saturday (12 October) at an extravagant ball to celebrate the charity’s 70th anniversary celebration, which raised £57,000 for the Scottish epilepsy charity.
The star-studded event, held at the prestigious Marriott Hotel, brought together over 250 guests for an unforgettable evening of entertainment and fundraising.
TV and Radio presenter Jennifer Reoch hosted the ball, which featured captivating performances by Michelle McManus, The Jersey Notes, and The Tartan Tenor.
In a highlight of the evening, BBC’s Bargain Hunt star Natasha Raskin Sharp presided over a Grand Auction, offering attendees the chance to bid on wonderful prizes including Andre Rieu VIP tickets, a 4-ball round at Turnberry, Peter Kay VIP tickets, private wine tasting and VIP hospitality tickets at Ibrox and Celtic Park, amongst others.
The funds raised over the course of the evening are vital for Epilepsy Scotland, which requires over £700,000 annually to provide person-centred, individually tailored social support to those affected by epilepsy in Scotland.
The evening also saw the premiere screening of a powerful new short film featuring death and epilepsy, a poignant reminder amid the celebrations of the evening that almost 300 people a year in Scotland die due to the condition.
Lesslie Young, Chief Executive of Epilepsy Scotland, expressed her gratitude: “A big thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate 70 years of Epilepsy Scotland and raise an incredible amount which will help us continue to be there for people living with epilepsy and their families.
“There has been real progress made in epilepsy care over the past seven decades, including improvements in diagnostics, treatment, and management.
“However, there are ongoing challenges and so much more needs to be done, especially around employment, provision of Epilepsy Specialist Nurses across Scotland and raising awareness of the condition and how it manifests itself.
“Epilepsy is so much more than just seizures, and substantial work remains in promoting understanding and education.
“By improving both, we could see a real reduction in the stigma that still attaches itself to the condition that affects many on a daily basis.”