Big names unite to give something back to city

Oct 1 2007 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

STARS and celebrities joined some of the biggest names in the property industry for one of Liverpool’s richest-ever charity balls.

Wayne Rooney’s fiancée Coleen McLoughlin was guest of honour at the Liverpool Property Aid ball, which took place in a marquee in the grounds of Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa over the weekend.

Wearing an elegant black dress, Coleen, 21, joined more than 600 guests for the prestigious gala dinner, including Liverpool council leader Warren Bradley and former Liverpool FC star Steve McManaman.

More than £500,000 is expected to be raised for a variety of good causes, thanks to donations from guests and a money-spinning auction.

And the crowd were treated to an evening of entertainment with performances from Summer Pops’ chart-busters Deacon Blue and The Bootleg Beatles.

The black tie ball helped raise the cash windfall for the NSPCC’s Safe Place Appeal, Claire House, Zoe’s Place, Marie Curie Cancer Care and other Merseyside-based charities.

Liverpool Property Aid was formed by Liverpool-based property firms Downing, Harvey Developments, Iliad, Maghull Group, and TRB Estates.

The group was formed with the primary aim to give something back to support charities in the city where their businesses began.

Michael Hanlon, a trustee of Liverpool Property Aid Limited, said he was delighted with the success of the event.

Mr Hanlon added: “The event was absolutely fantastic, it couldn't have been any better.

“I'd like to thank Hill Dickinson, Norwich Union and Peel Holdings for sponsoring such a wonderful ball.

“Considering how well the charities have served our business interests over the years it is only right to give something back to them.

“The turn-out was fantastic, and I’d like to thank everyone who pledged their support to the event.”

The NSPCC’s Safe Place Appeal, backed by the Daily Post, was kick-started by Matalan chairman John Hargreaves in 2004 with a £6m donation.

The £17m haven for abused children opened its doors earlier this year on Great Homer Street, Everton, where Mr Hargreaves grew up. It is the largest NSPCC base outside London, and also accommodates a ChildLine base where volunteer telephone counsellors help young people in distress, a There4me.com team which provides online information for young people, and a service for pregnant substance users.

Funds are still needed to cover the running costs of the building for the next decade.

Zoe’s Place and Claire House hospices provide palliative care for babies and children respectively on Merseyside.

alanweston