Kirsty Howard's Angel Ball - September 05

[Richard]

Hello everybody!

Last weekend, Hayley took part in Kirsty Howard's Angel Ball, and there is a very moving article in today's Manchester Evening News. Don't miss the photo gallery of the Angel Ball.

www.manchesteronline.co.uk/men/news/s/174/174522_ashes_bat_earns_thousands_for_kirsty.html

Monday, 19th September 2005

Ashes bat earns thousands for Kirsty
Dianne Bourne

CRICKET hero Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff helped Kirsty Howard reach another fund-raising milestone - by donating his match-winning Ashes cricket bat at the little girl's star-studded birthday bash.

Kirsty celebrated her 10th birthday in style with celebrities from the sports, music and television world, and tipped fundraising over the £4million mark at her Angel Ball, proudly supported by the Manchester Evening News.

She's now just a million away from the figure that will secure the future of Francis House Hospice in Didsbury.

Flintoff first of all auctioned off an Ashes bat signed by all members of both the England and Aussie cricket teams. But then he stunned partygoers by revealing that he had been so moved by meeting Kirsty for the first time that he wanted to give his own Test bat - the one that notched up a century at Trent Bridge in the Ashes - to the auction.

Flintoff said: "After meeting Kirsty for the first time I feel I should add something to the event.

"Trent Bridge was one of my famous hours, I scored 102 and what I'd like to do, I've not got the bat on me, but I'd like to donate the bat and the shirt I scored the runs with."

'Hunky men'

In total the two bats raised a massive £33,500, part of the £100,000 total raised by the charity auction compered by best-selling author Lord Jeffrey Archer on Saturday night.

The charity coffers were also boosted by the £105,000 presented by the M.E.N. team who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya for the Kirsty Appeal, including M.E.N. editor Paul Horrocks and deputy managing director Mark Rix.

They were introduced to the stage by Royle Family actress Sue Johnston, a patron of the appeal, who said: "Several hunky young men climbed Kilimanjaro in Kirsty's honour. What us women wouldn't give for them to walk in our honour."

Kirsty entered the glittering bash in a stunning lilac and pink dress with a headband made of hearts, before stealing the hearts of the 600-strong audience with her trademark smile.

After learning of her new charity total on the night, which now stands at £4,073,030, she took to the stage with Kirsty Appeal campaign manager Susie Mathis and said: "Thank you, I'm really happy".

Determination

Kirsty, who was born with her heart back to front, continues to defy the odds by celebrating her tenth birthday, despite being given just six weeks to live at the age of four. She has made another fightback to attend the glitzy do, after a relapse in July when she was put on a life support machine.

Kirsty's dad Stephen said she would now be looking forward to reaching the £5million goal.

"It's been a fantastic night tonight, and for a ten-year-old girl to have raised £4million is amazing.

"She is an angel and when she reaches that £5million it will be a lasting tribute to her courage and determination. She's not just one in a million, she's one in 600 million, and an inspiration to us all."

The evening was opened by Salford opera singer Jon Christos and New Zealand teenage opera sensation Hayley Westenra who performed a selection of classical songs, before presenting Kirsty with a keyboard and microphone for her birthday.

They later joined a packed stage full of celebrities to lead a chorus of "Happy Birthday" to a beaming Kirsty.


© Copyright 2005 Manchester Evening News. If you wish to use this article for commercial purposes please contact our syndication department.

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To see the photo gallery, click on the following link. Hayley is in pictures 18 and 21.

www.manchesteronline.co.uk/men/photogalleries/photos/324.html?1

Bye for now,

Richard

I changed the title of the topic from 'Manchester Evening News' to 'Kirsty Howard's Angel Ball' - September 05.
Stephany

[stephch]

Thank you but I think the press need's to learn what a opera singer is and Hayley Is NOT an opera singer .

[emmettb]

Hi Richard,

Thanks for finding that article.

Great to see Hayley doing even more work for charity, along with the Nordoff Robbins Center for Music Therapy.

Looked like a great night for the audience in attendance with Hayley entertaining.

I wonder how Flintoff got on??


Emmett

[Raymond]

Thank you for providing this.

[HWI]

Hi folks,

And anyone who is familiar with the recent Ashes series will know that the man of the English side was Freddie Flintoff. Thanks to Steve, Hayley's manager, I can now share this photo of Freddie and hayley together:

Keith.

[Lothar]

Hi,
many thanks for the photos.
cu Lothar

[Stephany]

Hi all,

Time to revive this thread from the dead. Here are a few more pictures of Hayley attending Kirsty Howard's 10th Birthday. She performed a duet with English tenor Jon Christos.

Stephany

[Nordly]

thanks for reviving this thread, I never sae it until today!

[gra7890]

Thanks Stephany,
As we seem to be in somewhat of a 'drought' of Hayley news it is nice to see something like this.
Well done, and thanks again.
Best wishes,
Graham

[Richard]

Great find, Stephany!

Thanks for changing the thread title, but it should be Kirsty, not Kristy, hence my little edits.

Richard