Sheffield's much-loved Daffodil Ball goes online - and has incredible prizes up for grabs in its auction

Co-founders of the Daffodil Ball, Jean and David Fyfe. Photo by Linda Bussey.

David and Jean Fyfe first set up the Daffodil Ball with friends Nigel and Sandra Worthington in 1990 to raise funds for Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity.

The ball has been held every spring since, helping to raise over £1 million for the charity.

However, last year’s thirtieth event was cancelled due to the pandemic and, with lockdown restrictions not fully lifted, the event this year will once again not go ahead.

Instead, the Daffodil Ball will be in the form of an online auction thanks to virtual entertainment company Redtooth, with some amazing prizes up for grabs.

David Fyfe said: “We desperately tried last year, and this year, to put it on again, but we are still trying to raise some funds.

"We got a lot of auction items in ready to go last year, and we still have many of them. We are teaming up with Redtooth.

"I have always been a bit nervous about the internet-based ones, as we work with items that are donated free, but if it is the only way of getting it done and money for charity then that’s the main thing.”

As well a chance to win a trip to Italy, dinner at a Gordon Ramsay restaurant, and golf breaks, you will be helping to support the ‘fantastic’ work of Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

The auction is due to run from Saturday, May 22 to Monday, May 31, and other prizes include a speedboat and pub crawl on Loch Lomond, a Le Manoir dinner for two and a spa break, as well as a fine dining in your own home experience.

"It’s just the charities, any charity, let alone the children’s hospital, need so much money,” David explained.

"They do such a fantastic job, but you need money to do that all the time, and over the years we have seen all the wonderful efforts that the hospital has made in many different areas – it is a fantastic charity, and a fantastic hospital, and we just wanted to put something together.

"Particularly locally in Sheffield the hospital is so highly regarded, and it would be a shame not to do something this year.”

Visit www.tchc.org.uk.