Challenge Ball Colours Your World!

News: 17 October 2017

October has always been a special month for Challenge; a month where we remember the beginning of our independence as a stand-alone organisation and all the families we have been able to care for throughout this journey.

We have been hosting the Challenge Ball now for 27 years and this gives us an opportunity to celebrate all that October means to us. This annual fundraising event is driven and steered by its extraordinarily passionate committee members, all of whom are directly or indirectly involved in the Challenge program. Every year, the committee strives for success and the 2017 Ball was no different.

From fabulous food to stellar entertainment, the Grand Ballroom of the Pullman Melbourne on the Park transformed into an electric atmosphere of fun, laughter and dancing.

From an objective perspective, the event’s purpose may be interpreted as to raise necessary funds to support our programs and services, however the Ball is so much more than that. Yes, raising funds is extremely important, but another important element of the night is to unite, reflect and honour.

In uniting, we can bring all our families together and solidify the connection and love that stencils this community of different families.

Upon reflection, we can understand why the work that Challenge does is so vital for children and families living with cancer. The very theme of this year’s event, “Colour My World”, signifies precisely what Challenge aims to achieve for each and every one of its families – brightening their lives with fun and positive experiences.

Most importantly, the focus is to honour. We honour the hardships, we honour the strength and we honour loved ones.

It is hard to articulate what makes a successful event, but it seems the Challenge Ball always earns this description for its profound purpose and ability to reinforce its message of celebrating life and sharing a special night with close family and friends.

To our sponsors – Pullman Melbourne on the Park, Yering Station & the Rathbone family, ALH & the Mathieson family, Microhire, Impact Digital, Graphicvm, Evoke Creative, Liftech and Short Story – thank you for your support and contribution.

Many thanks to our esteemed host, Mr Tom Gleisner; our entertaining and engaging Auctioneer, Ross Johnston; the multi-talented, Bryce Gathercole; and the band we love to love, Velvet Corporation.

Thank you to our volunteers for their ongoing hard work and to the incredible Challenge Ball Committee, we greatly appreciate their dedication and hard work behind the scenes.

Finally, thank you to all our guests! Whether you bought a raffle ticket, a mojito, an auction item or just danced the night away, you have directly contributed to the lives of countless families living with cancer. We hope everyone enjoyed their night as much as we did and we look forward to the 2018 event!