Manchester MediCinema Appeal Hits £1m Thanks to Dr Michael Josephson MBE £1m Farewell Ball

A star-studded ball hosted by Dr Michael Josephson MBE has helped our Manchester MediCinema Appeal reach a major fundraising milestone, with a £100,000 donation from the Farewell Ball taking the appeal to the £1 million mark as it closes in on its £1.1 million target.

Held at the Manchester Deansgate Hotel, the Dr Michael Josephson MBE Farewell Ball was the pinnacle of a long line of annual fundraising spectaculars hosted by Dr Josephson, which have famously raised millions for children’s charities across the North West and the UK.

The event, which took place in March, was one of Manchester’s most successful fundraising events ever, having raised over £1 million on the night. Sponsored by Godel Technologies and Zeno, the evening brought together leading figures from business, sport and entertainment for the culmination of a long-running series of annual fundraising balls that have become a hallmark of Manchester’s social and philanthropic calendar.

Guests, including celebrities like chat show host Graham Norton, enjoyed performances from 90s pop stars Gabrielle and Chesney Hawkes, while a money-can’t-buy Grand Auction included a lunch-in-a-lifetime experience with Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff and Piers Morgan. The longtime friends joined up to donate the prize, which raised a staggering £45,000 on the night as part of the evening’s overall fundraising total, with the Manchester MediCinema Appeal one of many causes supported at the event.

Our appeal, launched by Andrew and wife Rachael in December, aims to raise £1.1m to provide the city’s first fully accessible in-hospital cinema for patients at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and Manchester Royal Infirmary.

The 50-seat cinema, which will offer space for wheelchairs, hospital beds and medical equipment will show a minimum of 260 films a year, including the latest blockbusters alongside much-loved classics. Patients will be supported throughout screenings by dedicated MediCinema nurses and specially trained volunteers.

Funds raised by the Farewell Ball have helped the appeal to reach the £1 million mark – a major milestone that places the appeal firmly on the home stretch. Work on the cinema is already well underway, thanks to the generosity of supporters so far. It is hoped that the cinema can open to patients this summer.

Dr Michael Josephson MBE said: “It’s incredibly rewarding to see the impact of what was such a special evening. Over the years, my events have supported many incredible causes that make a difference for children and young people, and I’m absolutely thrilled that we were able to donate £100,000 to the Manchester MediCinema Appeal this year. It feels fitting that my £1 million Farewell Ball helped the appeal reach its own £1 million milestone.”

Andrew Flintoff said: “It’s fantastic to see the appeal reach this stage. The support so far has been amazing, and getting to £1 million with Michael’s help is a massive moment. We’re now so close to providing something really special for patients and their families here in Manchester.”

Rachael Flintoff added: “We’re hugely grateful to Michael for everything he has done not just for this very special appeal, but for so many amazing causes – he’s helped so many children in our community and beyond.”

Kathy Cowell CBE DL, Chair of Manchester Foundation Trust Charity, said: “We are extremely grateful to Michael, Andrew, Piers and everyone involved in the Dr Michael Josephson MBE Farewell Ball for their generosity and support. Hitting this milestone shows just how much Manchester cares about improving the experience for patients in Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and Manchester Royal Infirmary.

“With work on the MediCinema now well underway, we encourage everyone to help us in this final stage so we can open the MediCinema and bring the magic of the movies to our patients as soon as possible.”