Previous Galas
The Raisa Gorbachev Foundation Gala has become one of the most successful fundraisers of the London social calendar.
For the past four years the event has been held within the grounds of the Stud House, an historic house in the deer park of Hampton Court Palace.
The Gala’s costs are wholly privately funded – all money raised through ticket sales and the auction go directly to the causes we support.
2010 Gala
Mikhail Gorbachev and Evgeny Lebedev were delighted to host the fifth annual Russian Midsummer Gala at the Stud House, Hampton Court on Saturday 5th June 2010. The event raised a staggering £1.7 million for the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation and Marie Curie Cancer Care.
On the lawns of Stud House a part replica of the Church of the Intercession was recreated as the entrance into the fabulous dining room, complete with a floor to ceiling wall of stained glass and bespoke patterned ceiling, reminiscent of St Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow.
Hugh Grant joined the auctioneer (and CEO of Marie Curie), Thomas Hughes-Hallett on the stage and hosted an auction of promises and pledges. Auction lots included a stunning Marc Quinn painting Hyper Nova (2010), a Francis Bacon Triptych, dinner and music by Sophie Dahl and Jamie Cullum, a sensational Six Senses holiday of a lifetime and a jelly wrestle with supermodel Lara Stone. Guests also showed incredible generosity bidding for lots including life-saving treatments for children with cancer, child bereavement support and Marie Curie Cancer Care palliative care nurses.
A performance by Russian Soprano Anna Netrebko provided the start to an evening of fantastic food, drink and extraordinary generosity. Bryan Ferry, Simon Le Bon and a DJ set from Mark Ronson and Jefferson Hack entertained the guests into the small hours.
The primary goal of the Foundation is to raise funds for better treatment of children suffering with cancer in Russia and the UK and to fund research to help eradicate this life-threatening disease. The aim of the fundraising gala: To give more children suffering with cancer the chance to survive
2009 Gala
The fourth annual Raisa Gorbachev Foundation Gala at Hampton Court took on a decidedly Soviet air. Guests, including J K Rowling, Peter Kay, Boris Johnson and Sarah Brown were greeted by a troupe of 'Pioneers' (the 20th century Russian scouting movement) as they arrived. They then walked past auction prizes include a one-off Fiat Cinquecento designed by Sir Peter Blake and a skeleton by Damien Hirst (which later raised £300k for the foundation and its partner Marie Curie Cancer Care). Synchronised swimmers in letterbox red costumes braved the less than summery weather.
Dinner was served in a spiegeltent in the grounds of Stud House with tables arranged around a central stage from which President Gorbachev gave a moving opening address. Between courses, Chrissie Hynde performed an acoustic 20-minute set. A highlight of the night was when President Gorbachev took to the stage accompanied by Russian rock star Andrei Makarevich on the guitar and sang a song dedicated to Raisa. It was a touching memorial to Raisa on the 10th anniversary of her death. The audience was mesmerised and the only recording of an album of him singing was sold later in the evening to raise further funds. Thomas Hughes-Hallett, C.E.O. of Marie Curie Cancer Care took to the floor as auctioneer. The auction was a huge success and thanks to Tom’s magnificent work on the floor guests donated a total of £815,944.
2008
The third annual Raisa Gorbachev Foundation Gala at Hampton Court was a VIP extravaganza inspired by 19th century theatre folly. Guests arrived through the grounds of the Palace past vignettes from Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard and The Seagull. At the gates of Stud House, life sized toy soldiers waved them past a Camper & Nicholsons power boat and a Bentley (both auction prizes later in the evening).
Hostesses in tight bodices and billowing skirts guided the 600 guests (including Bono, Hugh Grant, Benicio del Toro and Kate Beckinsale) throughout the evening. Members of the Russian Olympic figure skating team performed on a specially constructed ice rink before guests entered a tiered dining room with a bespoke and elaborate proscenium arched stage and five vast crystal chandeliers.
The tickets and auction, which included an exclusive party at Annabel's and a sculpture by Antony Gormley raised £2.8million. After dinner Mary J Blige and Basement Jaxx led the partying into the small hours.
2007
The second annual Raisa Gorbachev Foundation Gala at Hampton Court Palace. Guests included, JK Rowling, Bob Geldof, Tom Wolfe, Ralph Fiennes, Jolie Richardson and Rhys Ifans. Russian nymphs played in the Privy Gardens before a fleet of Audis whisked guests to a specially created Russian hunting dacha in the grounds.
A causeway across two long waters installed for the night carried guests into a birch forest and then to a tiered dining room with tables looking down on a slick cream dance floor. Between courses the Kirov danced and then Elton John played an exquisite set.
2006
On Saturday 10th June 2006 the inaugural gala for the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation was held at Althorp in Northamptonshire.
400 guests, including the glitterati of fashion, film, media and society, drove through the grounds of Althorp where maidens swung in the trees and unicorns, a bejewelled camel and wolves roamed. Entering the house, guests were greeted by the angelic sound of the Christ Church Boys' Choir. On the lawn champagne was served and guests ate oysters as Cossack riders galloped over the horizon.
A six-course banquet was served in a specially-constructed pavilion with a message of support from Bono in Dublin, performances by Andre Gavrilov, the Scorpions and the Black Eyed Peas between courses. An auction led by Lord Dalmeny offered guests the chance to dine with President Gorbachev, design a dress with Matthew Williamson or fly in a MiG Fox bat - the fastest jet in the world.
The Sunday Times called it: "The party of the year".
