Annual Gala Charity Ball
Sat 11th Oct 2025
This video has been created for the gala dinner but gives a brief round-up of a lot of the fundraising and events that happens throughout the year.
The Annual Lucy Rayner Foundation Gala Dinner
Saturday 12th October 2024
Get your tickets now before they sell out!
Volunteer for an Event
This event aims to raise vital funds for our counselling service in 2025. We believe that with your support, we can make a significant impact supporting young adults with immediately support for their mental health.
Highlights of 2024
A Night to Remember: Our Havana-Themed Gala Dinner
Stepping into a world inspired by Havana, our recent Gala Dinner was a spectacular evening filled with celebration, community spirit, and unforgettable memories. The event was made possible thanks to our headline sponsor, IFG, and our event partners, Keymex, The Private Office: Real Estate, Reveries, PSS Internation removals, Silvermere and Kingswood Golf club, Santander Consumer finance and Advance Online. Who all played a crucial role in bringing this vibrant theme to life.
As guests arrived, they were greeted by the delightful sight of wooden barrels from Pilgrim Brewery, setting the perfect scene for our Cuban club vibe. A stunning balloon arch, generously donated by Events Belle, welcomed everyone into the main hall. The ambiance was enhanced by uplighting and a photo call, where our guests had the chance to capture memorable moments throughout the evening.
Upon entering, guests were treated to a refreshing arrival drink sponsored by a private company, immediately immersing them in the festive atmosphere. As they walked through the doors, they were met with the excitement of the Salsa Bug, whose lively performance got everyone on the dance floor.
The evening officially kicked off with our host, Addison, welcoming everyone and inviting them to take their seats. A heartfelt moment followed as the Rayner family took the stage to raise a toast to their loved ones. The charity shared insightful statistics about their impact, accompanied by a touching video that showcased the importance of our mission.
The fun began with our Heads or Tails game, where participants had the chance to win a 55-inch TV donated by Keymex. Congratulations to Martyn, our lucky winner! Dinner was then served, and guests enjoyed more captivating salsa performances from the Salsa Bug, featuring both solo and partnered dances.
Our guest speaker, Paul from Channel 4’s “Hunted,” delivered a powerful message about the importance of mental health, sharing his personal experiences from his time in the police force. This was a poignant reminder of the impact our charity works towards addressing.
For the first time, we had a professional auctioneer in the room, with Addison expertly conducting our live auction, which raised over £21,000! Meanwhile, our silent auction continued in the background, offering guests the chance to bid on fantastic items.
As the night progressed, we opened our roulette and 360-degree photo booth, courtesy of 3 Lucky Casino, while a waffle stand by Stick in London delighted our guests with sweet treats. All the while, our photographer, Olivia, was busy capturing every special moment, ensuring we have plenty of memories to share in a highlight reel.
The stunning centerpieces were crafted by two local organizations, Age Concern and Men’s Shed in the Furniture Store, who dedicated their time to create lovely crates for the tables. Each guest took home a small favor—a fridge magnet donated by The Loucy Rayner Foundation—serving as a cherished reminder of the evening.
To conclude the night, our DJ kept the energy high, guiding us through the early hours with fantastic music that had everyone dancing.
A huge thank you to our headline sponsor, IFG, and all our event sponsors for their generous support. This event wouldn’t have been possible without your contributions and commitment to our cause. We look forward to seeing everyone again at our future events!
Highlights of 2023
WOW! What a night!
With 2023 marking 10 years since the charity was set up, we were sure that this year’s gala was going to be the best yet and according to the feedback we have received since, we think it was.
Upon entrance, our guests were greeted with live music from Amie Johns and Josh Bailey as they made their way through our gold-curtained entrance provided by our amazing event production team from Reveries. The tables were stylishly decorated with tall orb balloon centrepieces and gold fringing, not to mention a free gold pen provided by hotline products, bespoke printed brochures and personalised Lucy Rayner stationary from Envelope Printing For Less. The room was also filled with a number of other exciting attractions such as roulette tables, a 360-degree photo booth and ‘On A Stick London’ providing waffles to purchase after dinner.
A huge thank you to our headline sponsors for the evening; Maple Parking, Lexus Croydon and Jemca Toyota who we would not be able to run the event without.
Our host for the evening, fitness and positivity coach Ben Davie, encouraged our guests to take a seat as he spoke about his journey with mental health and the ways in which he has introduced mindfulness into his life via ice baths and physical activity. He also explained one of our brand-new features, ‘The Giving Tree’ which was kindly donated by Knights Garden Centre in Betchworth. This tree allowed our guests to pledge something to the charity whether that was a financial donation, a pledge of their time or an offer to donate a raffle prize for 2024. We were blown away by the number of pledges on the evening and the kind and thought-out gestures given to us by those who took part. This was then followed by an amazing presentation from the Rayner Family who transported our guests through the year explaining the magnitude of those we have helped and the vast array of events we have organised or been involved in.
A firm favourite was next, our red and yellow game hosted by Terry Sims which is always a brilliant icebreaker for the evening and a top way to encourage generous donations from the get-go. This aspect of the evening alone raised an incredible £2245 and saw one of our lovely guests winning a 50-inch TV kindly sponsored by Richard Stephenson at Keymex Appliances.
Following this, dinner was served, and we were serenaded by two exceptional acts: Natalie Maclean with Shane Hill and Sophie Kisz. Once dinner was over and the drinks were flowing, we had the honour of hearing from our Guest Speaker George Sullivan who bravely told his story and shared details of the battle he has faced with his mental health. The speech symbolised the exact reason why charities like ours exist and was rightfully followed by a standing ovation.
Next up, Terry Sims hosted our live auction. We had seven incredible lots up for grabs including a Chelsea FC package, Niall Horan meet and greet tickets as well as an overnight stay in London with a £500 meal at Ivy Asia.
What better way to end this evening than introducing ‘The Edge Band UK’ as the first ever live band to feature at a Lucy Rayner Gala? The band were electric, with stamina like no other, and an exceptional repertoire that had the entire room up dancing.
The Highlights from previous years
Get in Touch
Would you like to learn more about our charity and fundraising events in Surrey? Our friendly team are here to talk to you. Call us on 01737 910 907 to book an appointment. Alternatively, you can email us at info@thelucyraynerfoundation.com and a member of our team will respond to your enquiry as soon as possible.
