THE Lighthouse Charity‘s premier fundraising and networking event has raised nearly £270,000 for the construction community.
Almost 950 guests attended the annual lunch at the Westminster Park Plaza. Taking the helm were rugby presenter and commentator David Flatman, ‘Flats,’ along with Ellie Roper, sports journalist and presenter. Sarah Bolton, Lighthouse Charity CEO, opened up proceedings with an update on the help delivered to the industry and a thank you for everyone’s support throughout the year.
The nominees for the charity’s ‘Peter Capel’ Cup were announced by Edward Naylor, co-chair of the trustees. The cup is awarded in recognition of outstanding contributions from organisations that support the charity. Wilson James triumphed in recognition of their amazing motor racing fundraising days.
Tony Palombo, MD of Wilson James, said, “We have supported the Lighthouse Charity for a number of years and we were delighted to be awarded the Peter Capel Cup. We have also called upon their services following some distressing on site situations where they have been extremely considerate in their response, delivering expert support and stabilising the situations.
“All of this support requires funding and we are proud to be part of the fundraising effort that ensures Lighthouse Charity can continue their vital work.”
Guests enjoyed a three course meal and Flats orchestrated the audience into some highly competitive auction bidding for lots including Gleneagle golf days, luxury sailing days, VIP boxes at Ascot, and Monte Carlo race days – raising over £55,000.
Top sporting celebrities then graced the stage. Kadeena Cox, paralympian world record holder and gold medallist in both athletics and cycling, shared her struggles with mental and physical health in the lead up to and following the Paris 2024 Paralympics and her journey to recovery.
Next up was England rugby legend Phil Vickery. A cornerstone of the 2003 Rugby World Cup winning squad, he talked of the camaraderie within the team and some of the characters he’d encountered throughout his career.
Stuart Pearce, one of England’s most iconic football figures then shared some of his history working as a electrician both before and even during the early years of his professional football career. Nicknamed ‘Psycho’ for his passion and commitment, he offered insight into his career captaining Nottingham Forest under Brian Clough and shared his pride at representing England 78 times, along with dealing with the hilarious antics of Gazza.
Sarah Bolton, CEO of the Lighthouse Charity, commented, “This amazing event is always one of our most popular and biggest fundraisers of the year. It’s a time for our charity to reflect on the support we’ve delivered and the people we’ve been able to help throughout the year. It also gives us an opportunity to thank our amazing volunteers, supporters and partners who ensure our message of support is amplified across our construction community. Thank you so much to everyone that makes our work possible.”
The afternoon was made complete with a rousing performance from ‘We Will Rock You,’ featuring artists from the top London show blasting out the greatest hits of Queen and getting the audience up on their feet. The festivities continued into the evening with guests embracing the Christmas spirit and making the most of the networking opportunities.
