Alfie's Ball raises £7,000 for babies at Southend Hospital

Alfie’s Ball was held in memory of Alfie Cox who was stillborn at the hospital at 21 weeks, in July, 2016.

Support - ball founder Emma Cox with pal Katy Pearson ahead of the second annual ball at the Park Inn Hotel, in Southend

Toast - the Hill family enjoy the evening at the Park Inn Hotel

Elegant - Tracy Goodman, Angela Poole and Kelly Snares enjoy the entertaining evening

Fundraisers - more than £7,000 was raised

Organised by his loving parents Danny and Emma Cox, of Ashingdon, the annual event, in its second year, took place at the Park Inn Hotel, in Southend, and helped raise thousands for the hospital’s special care baby unit (SCBU) and the fetal medicine department.

The couple are also parents to Jamie, eight, and Eden, one, and both the boys spent more than a month on the unit having being born at 29 and 30 weeks respectively.

More than 140 guests enjoyed a three-course meal as well as goodie bags and live entertainment from X Factor finalists singers Russell Jones Jnr and Talia Dean.

Two dancers from Nash Dance Academy, in Southend, also performed on the night.

The ball was sponsored by Basildon-based Underfloor Heating Store and Essex firm Railscape.

Chic - Niki Parr, Annette Newman, Aileen Webb and Jaymi Par

Community - the team from Southend Hospital’s Special Care Baby unit

Glam - Martin and Matthew Hardiman, Elsa Corr, Susan Hardiman and Jenny Corr

Emma, 40, said: “Thank you so much to everyone who came and everyone who supported us – it means so much to us and we know the money raised is going to make a real difference to the babies and families looked after by Southend Hospital.

“The approximate total raised this year, so far, is £7,200, which is up from last year’s total of £5,000. Next year we’re looking to go even bigger.”

Support - Danny and Emma Cox with singers Talia Dean and Russell Jones