7:06pm Friday 30th April 2010
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FORMER Rolling Stone Bill Wyman will headline a summer ball to raise funds for children with life-threatening illnesses.

TV presenter Keith Chegwin has agreed to host the big night at Blenheim Palace on Saturday, June 12, for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Kara Tointon, who played glamorous barmaid Dawn Swann in EastEnders, will also make an appearance to help raise funds.

The Rhythm Kings, headed by the former Stones bassist, are taking time out of their busy touring schedule to visit the palace.

The ball will be the 12th annual event at the palace, and with tickets costing almost £300 a head, about £150,000 is raised for the charity each year.

Karen England, fundraising director for the charity, said: “We are delighted Bill Wyman has agreed to bring his Rhythm Kings to Blenheim to headline our summer ball, which is one of four key annual events.

“Every year, about 1,000 children come to us and within a year we are able to grant 700 wishes.

“Wishes range from swimming with dolphins to meeting famous footballers.

“And we always try to grant a wish for the whole family so that a child’s parents and brothers and sisters can enjoy the day too.

“Some wishes cost a few hundred pounds but others can cost thousands.

“We do not get any money from the Government or the National Lottery and rely entirely on donations.”

Jayne Watson, Make-A-Wish Trustee, and the founder of the Blenheim Ball, added: “The ball this year looks set to be another fantastic evening, which we hope will surpass previous years for both our guests and the much-needed funds raised to grant more magical wishes.”

Mr Wyman said: “We cannot wait to perform at what is set to be a fantastic event for an incredibly worthwhile charity.”

The evening will begin with a Champagne reception in the Great Hall of the palace, before guests settle for dinner looking out on to the 2,100 acres of gardens and landscaped parkland.

Auctioned prizes include trips to exotic holiday destinations as well as one-off celebrity experiences. Tickets cost £297 per person or £2,970 for a table of 10. To book, visit BlenheimSummerBall.org [email protected]