Pictured above: (Front Row) Joph Young, Chris Allen, (back row) Stacey Redman, Elsa MacFarlane (Halls), Charlotte Fullard (Halls), Alison Pickerill, Jo Vaughan, Fran Hancox, Vicky Blagriff and Lisa Kemp at the Halls summer ball in aid of Acorns Hospice

Businesses raised more than £15,000 for Acorns Children's Hospice when the 'summer event of the year' was held in Worcestershire. 

Halls Chartered Surveyors hosted their summer ball in the grounds of Spetchely House and Gardens attended by 350 people from local businesses, professional contacts, friends and clients. 

A table for Acorns parents was sponsored by Rybrook BMW who chauffeured them to the venue in a fleet of their cars.

The money raised will be donated to Acorns to help them continue with providing the network of care and support to children with life limiting conditions which mean that they are unlikely to reach adulthood. They provide free 24-hour care at its hospices in Worcester, Selly Oak and Walsall and through its community team who offer support at home.

An auction of prizes donated by a number of local business and individuals was one of the highlights of the evening. Jeremy Lamond, auctioneer and director of fine art at Halls Shrewsbury office, auctioned a number of lots which included an Aberdeen Angus cow, a holiday for eight on Crete, a BMW Coupe for a 4-day long weekend, caddying for Carl Mason in the pre Tournament Pro/Am of the Seniors Masters, a men's designer watch, dinner for two and overnight stay at the Michelin star Simpsons in Edgbaston, a fully expensed box at Worcester Warriors, a day fishing on the Wye and two tickets to see Take That in Milan.

Jason Clines, commercial partner at Halls' Worcester office, said: "Acorns is a hugely worthwhile and local charity. Each year they have to raise in excess of £8million to fund the care they provide and we wanted to try and help them go part way towards achieving this.  

"We were completely overwhelmed at the support, enthusiasm and generosity of everyone involved and particularly in the current climate. I would like to take this opportunity to convey my sincere gratitude to all who contributed, donated and attended on the day." 

Carole Crowe, Acorns fundraising manager who attended the evening with her husband Steve, said "We rely on voluntary donations for the majority of the £8million-plus needed each year to run the hospices so events such as this are vital in allowing us to continue to operate. It was a great event and on behalf of the children and families of Acorns, I'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved."

Halls provides advice on all aspects of residential, commercial and agricultural property throughout Worcestershire, Shropshire and the wider West Midlands areas. They also have an established fine art, livestock and chattels division based in Shrewsbury.