'Evoke the Stars' gala raises £117,000 for Motor Neurone Disease Association
By Lucy Wynne
Evoke hosted its inaugural ‘evoke the stars’ charity gala, at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, on Thursday 14 November 2024 and successfully raised £117,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association.
Evoke owns renowned operators, William Hill, Mr.Green and 888 and this year it hosted its first ever charity gala. At the event, punters received a gala dinner, fundraising activities and entertainment all in the aim to raise money for a great cause.
Royal Armories Museum welcomed 450 guests at its sold-out black-tie event, including employees, partners, management as well as several celebrity ambassadors.
The entertainment included celebrity appearances from Evoke ambassadors: former NFL player, Jason Bell, horse trainer, Lucinda Russell and legendary jockey Sir AP McCoy.
The colleagues at Evoke nominated the company to partner with the Motor Neurone Disease Association, as their chosen charity for the gala, due to a regional operations manager’s niece being diagnosed with the condition at just 26-years-old. The MND Association helps to fund research and provide care to those affected by the incurable disease.
In the UK, more than 5,000 people are affected by the disease every year. Tamara - the niece - worked with the MND Association to create a video shining a light on her struggles and day-to-day experiences living with the condition; which was shown at the gala to raise more awareness about the disease.
Per Widerstrom, CEO of Evoke, said: “At Evoke, we care deeply about the issues that affect our colleagues and communities. Following a company-wide search for a charity partner, we selected Motor Neurone Disease Association due to its close, personal connection to a member of our retail team.
“Through our charity gala – a fantastic occasion that brought together our colleagues, partners and ambassadors – we wanted to play our part in raising vital funds for this charity while showcasing our commitment to support the causes that matter to our colleagues and the broader community.”
Ian D Gardner, head of philanthropy and corporate partnerships, said: ‘’We are extremely grateful to evoke and everyone who attended the inaugural Evoke the Stars event. Thanks to your generosity, we raised £117,000 - making it one of the most successful corporate fundraising evenings we've ever had.”