A CELEBRITY interior designer is hosting a winter event in Cirencester to raise money for a blood cancer charity.

TV’s Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and wife Jackie are collaborating with Linc to support blood cancer patients and their families through the Cotswold Snowball on Saturday, December 7.

Sponsored by local businesses and generous individuals, the event at Ingleside House in Beeches Road includes a three-course meal, a silent auction and a live band.

Bottles of Maximalist Gin - a new collaboration between Linc, Laurence and Gloucester Brewery - will also be on sale at the event.

Linc is focused on supporting blood cancer patients and their families in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and south Worcestershire.

Tickets for the Cotswold Snowball - which takes place from 7pm to midnight - are offered to everyone.

Several celebrity VIPs are expected to attend, and all money raised will go towards Linc’s three core services.

Louise Neal, chief executive of Linc, said: “As the cost-of-living crisis continues to take its toll, we have seen an increase in the financial challenges facing patients following a cancer diagnosis.

“There has been a growing need from patients to access our Linc Fund, which is bespoke funding that is quick and easy to apply for to help with a wide variety of needs.

“Over the years, we have funded everyday costs, such as a mortgage and rental payments, childcare, family days out to make special memories and craft and activity boxes for the day units, and even exercise bikes and Sky TV for the wards.”

Linc’s additional two core services include funding an award-winning clinical psychologist team which works with Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to support patients’ wellbeing.

The other core service is Linc Research, which gives patients receiving NHS treatment in the county access to innovative clinical trials and medicines not previously available.

Linc’s latest appeal aims to raise £30,000 by teaming up with patrons Laurence and Jackie to host the ball.

The event is also announced in recognition of Blood Cancer Awareness Month, held every September to raise the profile of the disease.

Laurence said: “I am outrageously delighted to host this year’s Cotswold Snowball in aid of Linc.

“Through glamour, generosity and gin, we are hoping to further support Linc’s campaign to care for those affected by the invisible adversary that is blood cancer.”

The Cotswold Snowball will accommodate 150 people.

Tickets cost £120 per person and are available from linccharity.org/event/cotswold-snowball

To register your interest to sponsor elements of the event or provide auction prizes, contact louise.neal8@nhs.net