Lily Ball raises over £100,000 to drive research f… - The Lily Foundation
The Lily Foundation logo featuring a butterfly, hearts and an 'x' for a kiss

Fighting mito,
finding hope.

Lily Ball raises over £100,000 to drive research forward

Events

30 March 2026

Last weekend our spectacular Burlesque Ball raised an incredible £100,000 to drive mitochondrial research forward. An evening filled with glamour and sparkle, it was also filled with hope – hope for a future where we’re no longer simply managing mitochondrial disease but curing it. A future brought one step closer with the launch of our ambitious new UK Mitochondrial Disease Research Institute.

Lily ball host Dominic Holland on stage in front of several tables of people in black tie outfits A showgirl dressed in black with red feathers strutting past tables at the Lily ball A group of people standing on the stage at The Lily ball holding confetti cannons A group of people standing together saying cheers with drinks at the Lily ball Lily Foundation ball host Dominic Holland on stage at the Burlesque ball A ballroom dressed in red and black for The Lily Foundation's charity ball A man in a black tuxedo locking a padlock to a lamppost at the Lilt ball Close-up of a man pouring champagne into a guest's glass at the Lily ball A group of people sitting at a table at the Lily Foundation ball laughing A guest in a black dress at a table chooses a lucky dip raffle bag Lily Foundation CEO Liz Curtis speaking on stage at the Lily ball The band Fully Funktional on stage at The Lily Foundation ball A group of people at the Lily ball laughing and holding their hands over their mouths

On Saturday 21st March, around 300 guests joined us at the Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel in London for a night of feathers, sequins and cabaret-inspired glamour. After a drinks reception, guests made their way into a ballroom that captured the spirit of a Parisian cabaret from the showgirls to the champagne, from the striking backdrop to the beautifully dressed tables.

Hosted by award-winning comedian Dominic Holland, the evening featured exquisite food, fine wine and a range of entertainment, including a popular chocolate-heart raffle, silent auction filled with incredible lots and heartfelt padlock dedications adorning our Parisian-style lamp post.

And then, at the heart of the evening, came a moment that shifted everything.

Amid the glamour and celebration, CEO and Founder Liz proudly launched our most ambitious initiative to date – the UK Mitochondrial Disease Research Institute. A bold, 10-year initiative to bring mitochondrial research in the UK together and accelerate progress towards treatments and a cure, the announcement brought the room to a standstill.

That purpose was brought home in a moving film that followed, about Joe and Jess and their baby son Felix, who has mitochondrial disease. They spoke about the uncertainties and painful realities of living with the disease, and why now is the right time to launch this ambitious project.

Charity co-founder Jonathan Pearce then took to the stage alongside madcap comic Terry Alderton to host a lively auction filled with memorable prizes and money-can’t-buy experiences. Thanks to the generosity in the room, the evening raised an eye-watering six-figure total, driven by a shared determination to turn our ambition into action.

The night ended on the dance floor, with the wonderful Fully Funktional taking to the stage to close the evening on a high.

Every bid, every donation and every ticket sold will now help launch our mission – that by 2036 we’re no longer talking about mitochondrial disease as incurable but telling the story of how we cured it.

Huge thanks to all of you who played your part to make this very special event happen. We couldn’t do it without the help of each and every one of you.

This was more than a night at the cabaret. It was a turning point in our fight against mito.

Join our mailing list and follow us on social media to be the first to hear about developments around the UK Mitochondrial Disease Research Institute.

Donate today

Donate through JustGiving to help us continue funding life-changing research – it’s our best hope of finding effective treatments to improve the lives of mitochondrial disease patients.