The Magnolia Cup Charity Fundraiser

The inspirational female riders for the 2017 Magnolia Cup presented by Swarovski last night hosted a fundraising event in Archer Street, London, to help raise funds for Place2Be. Through a live auction, silent auction and raffle, over £20,000 was raised for the children’s mental health charity.

Baroness Dido Harding, who will take her sixth ride in the Magnolia Cup, welcomed guests to the event and spoke about the role the race plays in raising important funds and building awareness of Place2Be. Dame Benita Refson, President of Place2Be, spoke about the incredible work that the charity does in supporting children and families with a variety of mental health issues, such as anxiety. The foreword for the event programme was written by HRH The Duchess of Cambridge.

The live auction was hosted by acclaimed racing presenter Nick Luck, with lots donated by Swarovski, Goodwood Racecourse, the riders themselves and many of their friends. Among the items and experiences to be auctioned were beautiful jewellery, a private yacht trip, the ultimate Ladies’ Day experience and bespoke outfits and hats.

Among those in attendance were Magnolia Cup presented by Swarovski riders Charlotte Hogg, Georgie Lane-Godfrey, Victoria Gray, Shadi Halliwell, Emily Baxendale, Camilla Swift, Alby Bailey and Clare Salmon. Designer Ellie Lines, who is creating a silk for the race, was also present, as was influencer and blogger Candice Lake. All wore jewellery pieces from Atelier Swarovski’s Autumn/Winter 2017 collection.

Shadi Halliwell, who is Creative Director for Harvey Nichols, said: “Working with the Magnolia Cup jockeys, reaching out to our network of friends and family to raise money for such an important charity, Place2Be, has been a joy. We are all thrilled that our event raised over £20,000 on the evening and want to thank everyone who gave so generously.”

All roads lead to the race!