The ‘This is Me’ themed Ball brought together its supporters and the Scottish business community for an evening of entertainment, food and fundraising. The night raised vital funds for The House of Hope, Scotland’s first dedicated wellbeing and support centre for people affected by breast cancer and their families.

The charity provides a welcoming non-clinical sanctuary offering wellbeing therapies, tailored workshops, classes and emotional support services, all of which are fully funded. It was founded by Lisa Fleming, diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2017, with the support of her husband, Euan Fleming, a partner in BTO’s wills, estates and succession planning team.

Caroline Carr, BTO’s chair, said: “The ball was a wonderful celebration of strength and resilience. We are honoured to support a cause so close to our hearts.”

Laura Salmond, partner and member of BTO’s charity & social events committee, added: “It was a privilege to sponsor the inaugural Ball and champion such an incredible cause. The evening was filled with captivating performances, fine dining, and above all, hope and inspiration. Our colleagues have been participating in a range of fundraising initiatives, from Kiltwalks to mountain climbs, and we are committed to continuing our fundraising journey with more exciting initiatives in the months ahead.”

Lisa Fleming, founder of The House of Hope, said: “We set out to create a magical evening that would raise essential funds for our centre. Thanks to BTO and our many supporters, we achieved that and more, raising £70,000.00 – our first Gala Ball was truly unforgettable.”

Should anyone wish to make a donation to The House of Hope, you can do so via the charity’s website.