A private 90-minute coaching session with Sir Gareth Southgate helped to raise more than £280,000 for a children’s hospice near York.
The funds were collected thanks to the generosity of supporters at the annual Glitter Ball for Martin House Children’s Hospice, held at Rudding Park Hotel in Harrogate.
Martin House Glitter Ball with the team from Haribo and Sir Gareth Southgate, centre. (Image: Bruce Fitzgerald Photography)
Hundreds of guests attended the event, which was hosted by broadcasters Christine Talbot and Duncan Wood and featured entertainment, fundraising, and live and online auctions.
Martin House Glitter Ball 2026 was hosted by broadcasters Christine Talbot and Duncan Wood. (Image: Bruce Fitzgerald Photography)
Sir Gareth Southgate, a long-time ambassador for Martin House, donated the coaching session for a junior football team of up to 20 players.
Sir Gareth Southgate donated a private 90-minute coaching session to the Martin House Glitter Ball to help raise funds. (Image: Bruce Fitzgerald Photography)
Other auction items included a limited-edition Omega Seamaster Diver 300M watch, a tour of the Oracle Red Bull Racing factory, an Emmerdale experience with actor Jeff Hordley, and a seven-night stay in St Ives.
Guests at the Martin House Glitter Ball 2026 which was held at Rudding Park hotel. (Image: Bruce Fitzgerald Photography)
Robyn Mountain Wade, director of income generation at Martin House, said: "We are absolutely overwhelmed by the generosity shown at this year’s Glitter Ball.
"To raise over £280,000 in one evening is an extraordinary achievement, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who supported the event and helped make the night possible.
"We were also delighted to have Sir Gareth with us once again.
"His continued support means a great deal to everyone at Martin House."
The funds raised will help Martin House continue providing specialist palliative care and support to children and young people with life-shortening conditions, and their families, across West, North and East Yorkshire.
To put the amount raised into perspective, £250,000 could help to cover the cost of running the hospice for an entire week or fund its hydrotherapy pool for a year.
Martin House Glitter Ball 2026 (Image: Bruce Fitzgerald Photography)
Each year, Martin House supports more than 550 children and young people across its Boston Spa hospice, hospitals and family homes.
The Glitter Ball on Friday, October 16, was headline sponsored by HARIBO UK, which has supported Martin House for 18 years and donated an auction prize of a winner's height in HARIBO sweets.
Phil Murphy, chief marketing officer at HARIBO UK, said: "The Martin House Glitter Ball is a celebration with real purpose, bringing people together to raise awareness and vital funds to allow Martin House to continue to provide the care and services to children and young people with life-shortening conditions and their families.
"HARIBO is proud to support this event that makes such a meaningful difference in Yorkshire, a place we have called our home for over 50 years.
"Creating special moments for those who need it most is something that’s really close to our hearts at HARIBO, and it is what Martin House is bringing to life – every day.
"That is why we would like to thank all supporters, kind donors and little or big helpers that have supported this Yorkshire charity tonight as well as in the past year."
For more information or to support Martin House, visit www.martinhouse.org.uk.