PRESS UPDATE : SURREY NEWS .. OCTOBER 8TH 2015

 Dame Joan Collins show support for Shooting Star Chase at ball

• BY CONNIE RUSK

Simon Cowell, Lauren Silverman, Tony Hadley and Dame Joan Collins were all out in force to show their support for the Shooting Star Chase on Saturday (October 3).

The event, which took place at The Dorchester in London, raised more than £100,000 for children with life-limiting conditions in London and Surrey.

Performance on the night came from British harmony swing group, Jack Pack, and the winner of America's Got Talent, ventriloquist Paul Zerdin, while an auction raised a massive £77,000.

Money-can’t-buy lots were on offer to the highest bidders and included use of a private jet and a lunch in France, a VIP screening of the Rugby World Cup final at London’s Mayfair Hotel, and an evening with George Clooney.

An afternoon tea with Joan Collins and Julian Clary raised £3,000, while Simon Cowell donated an impromptu last lot of four "meet and greet" tickets to The X-Factor final, which raised £8,500.

Mr Cowell, who was announced as Shooting Star Chase vice president earlier this year, then matched the amount the tickets raised with an additional donation.

He also successfully bid £3,000 for a one-of-a-kind Mulberry bag, and later donated it back to the charity to raise even more funds for the care service.

The limited edition double-sided Bayswater was kindly given to Shooting Star Chase by the luxury accessories retailer after they heard about the theft of a £500 second-hand Mulberry bag from the charity’s Guildford shop in the summer.'Vital car

On the night, guests also enjoyed a four-course meal by executive chef Henry Brosi, speeches from vice presidents Simon Cowell and Tony Hadley, and a presentation of artwork made by children at the hospices to Patron Joan Collins in honour of her Damehood.

Karen Sugarman, director of fundraising at Shooting Star Chase, said: “As always, I have been overwhelmed by the generosity and support from every one of our guests.

The Shooting Star Chase ball is always such a fabulous night and we are thrilled to raise so much yet again.

"This will make a significant difference to families whose lives are turned upside-down and need the vital care and support of our hospice service.”

Other fundraising efforts from the night are currently being counted and the total is expected to exceed £100,000.

Now into its 11th year, the Shooting Star Chase ball has raised more than £1m since it was launched in 2004.