Rowan Keating with Kirsty
ANGEL BALL
(in aid of Kirsty Appeal)
Saturday, 28th October, 2006
The function suite at the newly-opened Hilton Hotel, on Deansgate Manchester, was transformed with giant wings and butterflies and a sense of magic for the sixth and final Angel Ball.
The stage was set as the tension grew would the target of the Kirsty Appeal £5,000,000 finally be met, and would it be tonight? Kirsty and Susie Mathis (the appeal co-ordinator) welcomed everyone to the Ball and the host for the evening was Jon Culshaw the versatile impersonator from Dead Ringers.
Kirsty was very happy to sing a duet with one of the finest up-coming singing talents Richard Fleeshman; who himself had donated all his winnings from Soapstar Superstar 2006 to the Appeal. Heather Small get everybody up on their feet singing and dancing along to the hits of M-People. The night was full of surprises and there was a very special one for Kirsty.
As she started to sing one of her favourite songs, Boyzone’s “When you say nothing at all”, Ronan Keating walked into the hall singing with her. Once the shock wore off, her little face beamed for the rest of the song. Mike Osman, himself a talented impressionist with a wonderful rendition of Chris Tarrant, was the celebrity auctioneer for the evening.
Bellagio Time were pleased to donate a signed World Cup 2006 England Football shirt; a signed Steven Gerrard Liverpool shirt; and a poster signed by Pele for the film Escape to Victory in which he featured. In addition, Bellagio Time donated a 4.3ct diamond Paccioni Estrella timepiece.
The Estrella range is not due to launch until Spring/Summer 2007, and this was the first time any model from the range had been seen. In total, Bellagio Time enabled The Kirsty Appeal to raise £22,000 on the evening, and we were delighted that the £5,000,000 target was not only reached, but exceeded thereby securing the immediate future of the children’s hospice at Francis House in Didsbury.