Evoke Raises £153,907 for MND Association at second Charity Gala
Evoke has raised more than £153,000 for the MND Association at its annual Charity Gala in Leeds, extending its partnership with the charity for two more years and setting a new £1m fundraising target.
Evoke plc has raised £153,907 for the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association at its second annual Charity Gala, reinforcing its position as the charity’s highest corporate fundraiser. The total surpasses last year’s event and follows a series of joint activities, including a Charity Race Day at Ripon Racecourse.
At the event, held at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds on November 13, evoke confirmed a two-year extension to its partnership with the MND Association, setting a combined fundraising goal of over £1m. More than 500 guests attended, including employees from evoke’s global offices, partners, and well-known ambassadors from 888 and William Hill.
The funds will support the MND Association’s work in care access, research, and advocacy. Evoke selected the charity in 2024 after a colleague-led review, influenced by its connection to employee Leisa Byers, whose niece Tamara was diagnosed with MND at age 26.
MND continues to affect communities across the UK, including Leeds, where evoke is a major employer. The loss of former Leeds Rhino Rob Burrow last year brought renewed attention to the condition, which affects more than 5,000 people annually nationwide.
Per Widerström, CEO of evoke, said: “Following the success of our first gala, it is great to see our partnership with the MND Association continue to grow. Extending our partnership for a further two years and setting a £1 million fundraising target marks an important next step in our commitment to supporting the life-changing research, care and support the MND Association provides. This year’s gala brought together colleagues, partners and ambassadors for another fantastic evening, and we are proud to have raised a record total for such an important cause.”
Tanya Curry, Chief Executive of the MND Association, said: “We are incredibly grateful to everyone at evoke for hosting such a wonderful evening and raising more than £150,000 to support people living with motor neurone disease, their families and carers. Every day in the UK six people are diagnosed with MND and their lives change forever. This money – and our partnership with evoke – really matters.”
