Charity ambassadors Joel and Hannah are surprise hosts at the Emerald Ball

22 May 2023 | Fundraising, Support, Supporters

The Brain Tumour Support Emerald Ball was held to mark the 20th anniversary of Brain Tumour Support. The Brain Tumour Support Emerald Ball was held on Saturday 13 May at De Vere Tortworth Court, South Gloucestershire to mark the 20th anniversary of the charity and raise important funds for future support services.

The glamorous evening was attended by 270 guests who had travelled from all over the country, with charity ambassadors Joel Dommett and Hannah Cooper Dommett being the surprise hosts – just the night before Joel picked up a BAFTA as star presenter of The Masked Singer.

The Emerald Ball was organised as a commemoration, a celebration and a fundraiser – honouring the memory of Paul Mitchell, whose glioblastoma diagnosis and sadly early death inspired the founding of the charity.

A short film, shown on the night, captured the charity’s development from the simplest of beginnings.

Charity founder and CEO, Tina Mitchell Skinner, paid tribute to the many people who have been part of the charity’s history.

The evening brought together the family and friends of Paul Mitchell, both longstanding and recent supporters of the charity’s work, people who have benefited from the support services, and many of the Bristol Southmead Neuro-Oncology Team who have championed the unique personalised support which Brain Tumour Support has developed.

View the film

The services, which are all free of charge, offer emotional support for the immediate shock and crisis that a diagnosis can bring, as well as crucial guidance and advice to navigate the practical complexities that often result. There is also expert welfare and benefits guidance, as sadly the financial implications for many can be catastrophic, especially considering the current financial climate.

A personal testimony to the life-changing difference that the support service makes was given by Joel Dommett’s wife, model Hannah Cooper Dommett. The couple became prominent and passionate ambassadors for Brain Tumour Support after Hannah’s mum was diagnosed with a brain tumour in December 2020, and subsequently faced life-threatening treatment and lengthy recovery. At the gala event, Hannah spoke movingly of how Brain Tumour Support has helped her family through this most difficult of times.

Hannah recalled, “I remember I felt guilty for the emotions I felt whilst mum was going through all of this. But I had no idea how much it really was about ALL of us. We needed to stay strong as a family to fight this and be the rock for Mum. And there was no way we would have had the strength to do this if it wasn’t for the support of Brain Tumour Support. Feeling like we weren’t alone in this was the biggest weight off our shoulders.”

Both she and Joel spoke of the importance of the charity’s work and their commitment to raising awareness and funds so that more support can be made available and more people know about it early on.

Hannah explained, “It’s a really brave thing to be able to reach out to anyone outside of your immediate circle for help and support. And when you’re in the thick of it, you need someone there and then. And our goal is to let as many people as possible know that you do not have to go through any of this alone. Support is there. Any time. Any day. For anyone!”

Following her emotional story, Hannah joined Joel as he led the charity auction, the climax of the evening’s fundraising with lots very generously donated and which included a VIP day at Salisbury Races, a stunning weekend break in Devon, and exclusive tickets to the filming of ITV’s The Masked Singer.

With Joel as auctioneer, the bidding was accompanied by much fun and laughter. However, it also achieved its serious aim, enabling the evening to surpass the charity’s fundraising target for the event, with the final total hitting £27,560.

It was an occasion with many very personal touches – every table was named after something of personal significance in Paul Mitchell’s life, and on every place setting was a personally written card of thanks from Tina. Afterwards, she said:

“This was an incredibly special evening, which filled me with gratitude, pride, and great emotion in bringing together supporters, old and new, who have championed the charity over two decades. Not only was it a celebration of the efforts of so many people over that time to deliver life-changing support to thousands of families across the UK, it was, most crucially, looking to the future with the determination to achieve still more.

The funds raised tonight and that continued support from so many wonderful people gives me great determination and encouragement for all that can be achieved in the next 20 years.”

#20YearsOfSupport #TogetherWeAreStronger