X Factor stars take stage at charity ball
Cancer event raises £7.8k
Guests at the ball in their masks X Factor contestants Caitlyn Vanbeck and Jamie Lee Morley surprised party guests when they took to the stage at Perth Masquerade Ball.
Last weekend the event at the Fair City’s Salutation Hotel raised an incredible total of over £7800.
It will go to Macmillan Cancer Support, with all funds to be spent on services provided by the charity in the Tayside area.
Pamela McAllister, the main organiser of the ball, explained: “When my younger sister, Fiona Munro, was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer in January this year, aged just 30 years old, she shared her wish to attend a masquerade ball.
“With the help of our parents, Richard and Alison Wood, and friends Amanda Thomson, Charlene Meldrum and Katie Hull, we decided to organise a masquerade ball and donate all the money raised to Macmillan Tayside in recognition of all the support Fiona and our family have received from the local nurses and Macmillan.”
It was a huge success, made all the better when celebrity visitors Caitlyn and Jamie agreed to get involved. Caitlyn wanted to ‘pay it forward’, after Fiona spotted her busking in Edinburgh before her X Factor fame and gave her one of her Random Act of Kindness donation envelopes.
Caitlyn said: “Being part of something so magical is one thing I will never forget”.
Jamie added: “It was a pleasure for us both to perform at such an incredible event. The effort put into it was amazing.”
Since her diagnosis, Fiona has raised thousands and inspired others to also raise thousands of pounds for various charities by sharing her story.
In October, Fiona was named Scotland Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year by the Institute of Fundraising and was invited to attend Westminster this month to
Fiona Munro, centre, with former X Factor contestants Jamie Lee Morley and Caitlyn Vanbeck address the UK Parliament friends made my dreams to raise awareness of come true and organised ovarian cancer. the best night of my life,
Her blog, www.fkmunro. “I am completely blown com, now has more than away by the generosity of 73,000 readers and is a everyone. candid account of her “I will cherish the cancer journey and the memory of this night importance of living forever,” said Fiona. positively following a cancer diagnosis.
“My sister, family and Pics by Ian Emmett Photography.