FOR the first time ever residents are invited to attend a glamorous evening of dancing and dining in aid of Hampshire Hospitals Charity.

The charity supports NHS hospital workers and the patients they care for.

Supported by and held at the Apollo Hotel in Basingstoke, the evening will host a full three-course meal, music from a live band, a high-end auction as well as a special dance performance from the Basingstoke Academy of Dance.

The event, which will take place on Saturday, October 28, hopes to raise thousands of pounds for the child health department at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT) through the charity’s The Magic Lion Appeal, which will support patients seen at Basingstoke, Winchester, Andover and Alton hospitals.

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With the money raised, Hampshire Hospitals Charity hopes to improve services for children and young people seen at HHFT by investing in state-of-the-art equipment, redecorating spaces as well as reconfiguring wards to allow patients to be accessed quicker, easier and with greater space.

Steve Erskine, chairman of Hampshire Hospitals Charity and HHFT, said: “We are really excited to be celebrating with our community all of the fantastic work that our staff do day-in, day-out for patients seen at HHFT.

“The evening will also be a wonderful opportunity to support the work of our brilliant charity, which aims to raise over £1 million each year to support our patients, staff and volunteers at the trust, whilst enjoying a fabulous evening of fun.”

Alex Whitfield, chief executive of HHFT and trustee for the charity, added: “In recent months, our staff have worked incredibly hard under significant pressure to continue providing care to all those who need us. This evening is all about coming together to recognise and celebrate those efforts whilst raising funds to improve our services even further.

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“Our child health departments see tens of thousands of children and young people every year. It’s absolutely vital that we invest in our spaces to ensure they are high-quality environments in which to provide excellent patient care for the years to come.”

Early bird tickets are now available and offer 25 per cent discount to those who purchase before March 31 this year.

Visit hampshirehospitalscharity.org/events to find out more or to book a place.