Stars help raise over £120,000 for children

Fundraising events in Manchester and Leeds have between them raised an amazing £126,000 for ChildLine and the NSPCC Helpline.

The ChildLine Ball in Manchester saw Noddy Holder, singer with glam rockers Slade, rub shoulders with Coronation Street favourites Mikey North and Debbie Rush.

Noddy said, "As a longstanding supporter of the NSPCC, I was really pleased to be invited to this year's ChildLine Ball. It was a fantastic night and people were massively generous. Events like this mean the charity is able to continue to support so many children and young people through ChildLine and the NSPCC Helpline. I would urge everyone to support the charity and do what they can to make a difference."

The night - sponsored by Jaguar and Etihad Airways - raised £65,000, making it Manchester's most successful ChildLine Ball yet.

Michael Josephson, of Stocks Ltd, was part of the organising committee and thanked local people and businesses for their generosity.

"This is Manchester's eighth ChildLine Ball and we're thrilled at its success. Those who donated prizes and dug deep made a real difference," he said.

In Leeds, the first ever White Rose Ball saw a sell out crowd enjoy a performance by Lesley Garret CBE. The opera star, and NSPCC Ambassador, praised the organisers and said the money raised would go a long way to helping vulnerable children.

"It's events like this that mean the charity is able to continue to provide much needed support for so many children across the UK. ChildLine and the NSPCC Helpline do such important work - I want to encourage everyone to give what they can because it all makes a real difference.

"It was an amazing evening and it's fantastic that people were so generous despite the difficult economic climate, raising a staggering £61,000."

The White Rose Ball was sponsored by first direct, Land Securities and Town Centre Securities and organised by the NSPCC's North Child's Voice Appeal Board.

The Board's chairwoman, Alison Leonard, sang Lesley's praises and hinted at bigger things to come.

"Lesley Garret's performance was amazing and made the evening truly memorable. Who knows, we may have started something that could become an annual event," she said.