Digby Brown hits £1MILLION milestone with Winter Dinner Dance 2023

Digby Brown is delighted to confirm its Winter Dinner Dance for Spinal Injuries Scotland (SIS) has now generated more than £1.1million to help survivors of spinal cord injuries.

More than 500 people – including host Des Clarke and top comedian Dara Ó Briain – flocked to the Doubletree by Hilton in Glasgow on Friday last week to honour the charity and its volunteers.

With donations, a prize-draw and digital auction, generous guests dug deep and helped raise £117,997 on the night - smashing the previous record of £102,101 set last year.

The latest round of fundraising means that in the 20-year history of the Winter Dinner Dance, the personal injury firm has now helped raise a total of £1,115,456 for SIS.

Craig Semple, Director of Marketing at Digby Brown, has been involved in the dinner every year since its inception.

He said: “The Winter Dinner dance has been part of my life for 20 years. In that time, it has grown out of all recognition however throughout these years of change two fundamentals remain: the loyalty of those that buy tables and the fundraising cause.

“Some might suggest from the feedback we receive that it is now the best charity dinner dance in Scotland, that is for debate, the fact that it has raised now well over £1million for Spinal Injuries Scotland is not.

“Book your table now, provisional date for 2024 is Friday 1st November.”

The annual event that has now been running for two decades aims to raise vital funds that go towards supporting survivors of spinal cord injuries and their families.

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Michelle Anna Moffatt, SIS Ambassador, gave an emotional speech about living with a spinal injury and the importance of the charity's work in her recovery.

Addressing the Winter Dinner Dance she said: “I wish I found the charity at the start of my spinal injury.

“It would not change my challenges or my condition... however, Spinal Injuries Scotland helped me emotionally, mentally, socially and spiritually.

“Meeting this charity was the answer to my prayer.”

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Digby Brown helped raise the incredible sum through table sales and multiple fundraising activities that occurred throughout the night like a tombola and a prize-draw raffle.

The digital auction alone raised more than £15,000 last week.

Among the auction items was a signed Manchester United football and a signed St Mirren 2023/24 home shirt.

There were also luxury getaway packages, VIP concert tickets for The 1975, Texas and Simple Minds and a coveted diamond necklace from Chisholm Hunter.

But the most successful listing on the night was a specially donated oil painting from Glasgow artist Gordon Wilson whose unique ‘Lady Justice’ portrait fetched £1,503.

Guests were involved in a bumper game of Top Trumps featuring music-video recreations and sing-a-longs and were part of an awards ceremony to celebrate two decades of the Winter Dinner Dance.

Maureen Morrison, Chief Executive Officer at SIS, said: “Events like the Winter Dinner Dance are of huge significance to Spinal Injuries Scotland (SIS).

“Our charity may be small in size but the work we do is not, helping dozens, even hundreds, of people and families all over Scotland as they rebuild their confidence, independence and futures after a spinal cord injury.

“Digby Brown has been unwavering in its commitment to SIS over the last 20 years and raising more than £1million in this time via the Winter Dinner Dance is a true testament of our collective strength.”

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Chris Stewart, Partner and Head of Digby Brown’s Serious Injury Department, said: “The Digby Brown Winter Dinner Dance for Spinal Injuries Scotland (SIS) is always an extraordinary event and this year's 20th anniversary celebration was no exception.

“We are always humbled by the generosity of those who attend so to raise £117,997 on the night and reach that £1million milestone really is incredible.

“Such a landmark doesn’t just recognise 20 years of the Dinner Dance – it recognises 20 years of people… 20 years of dedication… 20 years of families, friends, colleagues and healthcare professionals rallying in celebration, determination, generosity and positivity to improve the future for everyone.

“Without SIS or its volunteers there are so many people and families who would not have the life-affirming support they deserve – this is why the Dinner Dance and SIS really does matter and why Digby Brown is immensely proud of its long-standing relationship with the charity and its volunteers.

“Our thanks go out to Des for hosting, Dara Ó Briain for providing the laughs on the night, and everyone working hard behind the scenes who made this event a triumph.

"Here’s to the next 20 years!”

Learn more about Digby Brown’s work with Spinal Injuries Scotland.