Celebrities attended the glittering annual Daisy Ball on Saturday to show their support for blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan.
The 22nd annual Daisy Ball, held at Grosvenor House on Park Lane, was attended by stars including The Night Manager’s Olivia Colman, actor Tom Holland, star of Captain America: Civil War and Wolf Hall, and reality star Stevie Johnson from Made in Chelsea.
The 550 guests attending the annual black-tie event raised an estimated £150,000, which will enable the charity to recruit more stem cell donors to the register. It costs £60 to add each new potential donor to the register.
Young Spiderman star Tom Holland, fresh from launching his new film Captain America: Civil War on Friday 29 April, said: “I’m so excited that my new film Captain America: Civil War has hit cinemas – I had such a good time playing Spiderman. It’s amazing to be back in London at the Anthony Nolan Daisy Ball tonight – it’s one of my favourite events of the year, especially as my dad is hosting this year. Anthony Nolan does great work and proves that you don’t need to be a superhero to save a life!”
Actress Olivia Colman said: “It’s been an amazing year for our family as we’ve welcomed our new baby. It’s nice to have a night off to be here and support a charity that means a lot to me.”
Actress Kellie Shirley (Eastenders, One Man Two Guvnors), a longstanding supporter of Anthony Nolan, was also excited to be at the event. Kellie has raised awareness of umbilical cord blood donation since her twins Louie and Pearl were born last August. Kellie said: “I’m really excited to celebrate the lifesaving work of Anthony Nolan tonight. This time last year I was pregnant with my twins, who went on to become potential little lifesavers themselves after I donated their cord blood. I’m proud that I, and they, are part of such an incredible cause.”
Other guests included Stevie Johnson from Made in Chelsea, who attended with girlfriend Cressida Stewart. In 2013 Stevie became the 500,000th person to join the Anthony Nolan donor register after hearing of the need for donors.
Joe Crowley and Lucy Siegle, co-stars on The One Show, were also delighted to attend the Daisy Ball. Joe and Lucy both ran the Virgin Money London Marathon for Anthony Nolan in 2014, and continue to support the charity’s aim of finding a donor for everyone who needs a transplant.
The night included a three-course meal, inspirational real life stories and entertainment from Britain’s Got Talent winners Spelbound and famed juggler Paul Ponce.
Catherine Miles, Director of Fundraising at Anthony Nolan, said: “Our guests enjoyed an incredible night at the Daisy Ball. Once again, people were incredibly generous, and we’re on track to have raised £150,000 for Anthony Nolan.
“Since our last ball in 2015 Anthony Nolan has invested in world-leading technology and provided transplants to 1,200 people with blood cancer – but there is still more to be done to make sure we can provide a stem cell transplant to everyone who needs one. The money raised tonight will go towards recruiting new potential donors and investing further in our lifesaving research.”
